Posted by By Paul Sanusi on
A biblical injunction which says 'what God has joined together, let no man put asunder' was reversed yesterday, when an Ogudu Grade ‘B' Customary Court, Ogudu, Lagos, dissolved the 15-year-old union between Mr. Musbau Oni and his estranged wife, Mrs. Seun Oni, residing at 8, Kujore Street, Ojota, Lagos.
A biblical injunction which says 'what God has joined together, let no man put asunder' was reversed yesterday, when an Ogudu Grade ‘B' Customary Court, Ogudu, Lagos, dissolved the 15-year-old union between Mr. Musbau Oni and his estranged wife, Mrs. Seun Oni, residing at 8, Kujore Street, Ojota, Lagos.
The petitioner, Mr. Oni, had gone to court to seek the dissolution of his marriage to his estranged wife because of her insurbordination and disrespect to him and his family.
He also accused her of threatening his life and not taking good care of his children.
Mr. Oni told the court further that the respondent reported him at his place of work and this led to his dismissal from work.
He urged the court to dissolve the union and restrain the respondent from fighting, molesting, harassing or intimidating him.
In her response, Mrs. Oni denied all the allegations and urged the court not to dissolve the union. But the petitioner insisted that the marriage must be dissolved.
The marriage which was contracted in 1993 without any dowry being paid, produced four children, namely, Saidat, 14; Asisat, 12; Moroof, 9 and Muis, 7.
In his verdict, the court president, Chief E.O. Gbose said: 'The marriage was characterised with constant fighting, threat to life, lack of respect to the petitioner and his family, lack of care for the children and the petitioner, desertion and lack of love, which is the bedrock of a successful marriage.
'It shows that the marriage has collapsed and broken down irretrievably and nothing to sustain same. The marriage between Musibau Oni and Seun Oni is ordered dissolved this day, 13 August, 2008.'
He gave custody of the four children of the marriage to the petitioner. He also ruled that the respondent must be allowed to see the children in the courtroom; and that the children should spend four weeks during long vacations with the respondent.
He also ordered the petitioner to pay N10,000 to the respondent through the court registry.