Court dissolves banker’s marriage

Mrs Bolanle Omotola, 28, had filed the case in October 2008, seeking an end to her marriage with Mr Benjamin Omotola. “I want the court to untie the marital knot between me and Benjamin because there is no more love between us,” Bolanle said. The petitioner, who resides at Oremeji Street, Ilasamaja in Lagos, pleaded […]

Mrs Bolanle Omotola, 28, had filed the case in October 2008, seeking an end to her marriage with Mr Benjamin Omotola.

“I want the court to untie the marital knot between me and Benjamin because there is no more love between us,” Bolanle said.

The petitioner, who resides at Oremeji Street, Ilasamaja in Lagos, pleaded with the court to dissolve the marriage because she was no longer interested in it.

Counsel to the petitioner, Mrs Ebere Topman, pleaded with the court to dissolve the marriage and grant his client the custody of the only child of the relationship.

“I am not denying the respondent of his right with regard to the only child, aged three, but the child still needs the mother’s care,” Topman said.

The respondent was absent throughout the hearing but was represented by a counsel, Mrs Fausat Shittu.

Shittu said that Benjamin’s religion did not permit him to appear before the court.  

Shittu said that her client was a Jehovah witness and that he had consented to the dissolution of the marriage.

“Benjamin is not interested in the marriage but is only concerned about the custody of the child as the biological father to Molody Benjamin, aged three.

“The child is still with the petitioner but our bone of contention is that when the child is six years, she should be returned to her father,” Shittu said.

She said that the law permits a man to claim a child when the child was six if he wanted the custody of the child.

Counsel to the respondent said that by Yoruba culture, the father is the owner of the child no matter the distance separating them (father and child).

The Court President, Dr Abayomi Ipaye, dissolved the marriage and said the two could co-habit with anyone of their choice.

Ipaye, however, referred the custody of the child to the family court for adjudication if the respondent still wanted to have custody of him when he was six years. (NAN)