Nigerian man, Theophilus Ayodeji Obayan, has taken his estranged wife to a Grade ‘A’ Customary Court in Oke-Eda Akure, Ondo State, for changing the surname of their children to that of her new lover.
On Thursday, August 10, 2023, Obayan filed a petition in court demanding the divorce of his 23-year marriage to Chibuzor Lillian Obayan and custody of their four children.
“My lord, my marriage from onset was characterized with crises, abuse, disobedience, misunderstanding, lies, manipulation, hate and rage,” he narrated.
“I married Lilian in the year 2000 and we have four children. I am a Yoruba, while my wife is of Igbo tribe. I have suffered a lot in the hands of her family because they don’t love me, but I’ve been enduring
“Lilian packed her belongings out of my house to another man’s house in 2019 and went to change her name, including my children’s surname to the name of the Igbo man she’s engaged to.”
The petitioner told the court that his estranged wife has refused to let him see his children since she moved out of his residence.
As a result, he petitioned the court to dissolve the marriage and give him custody of the four children, as well as to order her to change their names back to his.
Lilian, who argued against the petitioner’s claims, said her husband was terribly reckless.
“My lord, life was not easy for me over the years we have been together. In fact, Obayan derived pleasure in always molesting and beating me to the extent that I sustained body fractures,” the respondent told the court.
“Obayan is not a good husband to me and good father to his children, as he doesn’t pay their school fees nor care about how they are living.
“He didn’t pay my dowry. So, I finally found a man to marry. And my new love wants my children to bear his name instead of that of their irresponsible father.
“Our children are old enough to choose for themselves as they are no longer kids. My first two girls, Mayomi and Damilola are 22 and 20 years old, while the boys, Ariyo and Aduragbemi are 18 and 16 years old respectively.”
Lilian also stated that she was in court with witnesses to determine whether or not she and the petitioner had a traditional marriage.
As a result, she petitioned the court to break the union, claiming that she was done with Obayan, since he had not paid her dowry.
Magistrate Olusegun Rotiba, President of the Court, asked the parties in his judgement to enable peace to rule amongst them.
He postponed the case to September 28, 2023, for the continuation and adoption of oral arguments or, more likely, judgment.
