A Grade A Customary Court sitting at Mapo in Ibadan has dissolved an 11-year-old marriage between Olajumoke Ogunsola and her estranged husband, Femi Ogunsola, over alleged laziness, drunkenness, and irresponsibility.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, the President of the court, O.E. Owoseni, held that the marriage was dissolved because the petitioner was no longer interested in continuing with the relationship.
Owoseni granted custody of the two children from the union, aged eight and three, to the petitioner.
She also ordered Ogunsola to cater for the children’s education, feeding, and general welfare.
The court further restrained the respondent from threatening, harassing, or interfering in the private life of the petitioner.
Earlier, the petitioner, who resides at Olomi-Olunde, told the court that her husband’s alleged laziness, drunkenness, and irresponsibility forced her out of the marriage.
According to her, she met Ogunsola in South Africa while they were both struggling to survive, and their relationship progressed after she became pregnant for him.
She further told the court that after their wedding ceremony on January 4, 2015, she discovered that her husband allegedly preferred smoking, drinking alcohol, and staying out late at night instead of being productive.
The petitioner also alleged that the respondent later became irresponsible towards both her and their children due to his alleged laziness.
She informed the court that the situation forced her to leave his house on September 21, 2021.
The petitioner further appealed to the court to grant her custody of the children and order the respondent to pay N50,000 monthly for their upkeep.
Ogunsola, however, was absent in court when the matter was called for defence.
The court bailiff informed the court that several hearing notices had been served on the respondent, including substituted service through WhatsApp, but he failed to appear.
