A Grade A Customary Court sitting at Mapo in Ibadan on Friday dissolved the eight-year marriage between Mr. Olatunji Jimoh and his estranged wife, Mariam, citing persistent interference from the wife’s father.
Delivering judgment, the Court President, Mrs. O.E. Owoseni, said the dissolution became necessary in the interest of peace after all efforts at out-of-court settlement failed.
“Therefore, the marriage between Jimoh and Mariam has ceased to be in the interest of peaceful living,” she ruled.
Owoseni granted custody of the two children to Mariam, noting that they are still of tender age. The court, however, granted Jimoh reasonable access to the children, provided he appears in person.
The court further ordered:
- Jimoh to pay a monthly feeding allowance of N100,000 for the children.
- Jimoh to remain responsible for the children’s education and welfare.
- Jimoh to continue paying for the three-bedroom apartment where Mariam and the children reside.
- Mariam to refrain from harassing, threatening, insulting, or interfering with the petitioner henceforth.
The court also admitted into evidence a marriage certificate tendered by Mariam, countering Jimoh’s claim that they merely cohabited.
Background
Jimoh had earlier told the court he sought divorce due to what he described as undue interference by his father-in-law in his home. He stated that Mariam left their residence in Ado-Ekiti and relocated to a house provided by her father in Ibadan.
He added that although he had been responsible for the children’s welfare and education since 2023, he stopped financial contributions after being denied access to them.
Responding, Mariam urged the court to dismiss his claims, describing them as untrue. She argued that Jimoh was too busy to properly care for the children and that she had been solely responsible for their feeding, which she said cost at least N100,000 monthly.
She also asked the court to compel Jimoh to pay outstanding accommodation, feeding, and school fees, and tendered documents to prove they were legally married.