An Alimosho Customary Court in Lagos State on Monday dissolved a 14-year-old marriage between a 40-year-old businessman, Abraham Jokotola, and his wife, Adekemi, over adultery and abandonment.
Adekemi accused the husband of abandoning her for another women in 2005 and 2009.
The president of the court, Alhaja S.O. Mumuni, in her judgment, said that it was obvious from available testimonies and the respondent’s refusal to appear in court, that the marriage had hit the rock.
He said, “Throughout the duration of this case, the respondent refused to honour the court’s summons. Therefore, the court has no other choice than to dissolve the marriage.
“The marriage between Adekemi Jokotola and Abraham Jokotola is hereby dissolved from today in accordance with the Lagos State Customary Law 2013, Cap. 19.
“Both parties are no longer husband and wife, they are free to marry any other partner of their choice, without any hindrance or molestation.”
The petitioner, Adekemi, 38, a businesswoman, had approached the court to end her 14-year-old marriage for alleged infidelity and abandonment.
She said her husband did not respect and obey their marital vows by abandoning her to marry another woman without her knowledge.
She said, “In 2005, after three years of our marriage, my husband packed out of the house to an unknown destination, telling me that he was done with me because I was yet to give him a child.
“In 2007, he begged me for forgiveness, I accepted him back. We solemnised our wedding in the church. He abandoned me again in 2009 only to resurface again in 2013.”
Adekemi said that when she was tired of his disappearing acts, she called for a meeting of both families.
She said, “It was there he confessed that he had married another woman who had a baby for him.”
Adekemi urged the court to dissolve the marriage which produced no child, saying, “I do not love him anymore; he is a betrayal and a cheat”.
(NAN)
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