Guardian

A POLICE Contractor, Mr. Emmanuel Egbunine, 43, has approached an Oshodi Customary Court presided over by Alhaja A. I. Olorunimbe, seeking the dissolution of his 12-year-old marriage to his wife, Mrs. Adaku Egbunine, which he contracted under the Native Law and Custom. The marriage produced a child.

The petitioner filed the suit on the grounds that the respondent was married to another man and even given birth and there had been subsequent abandonment of the only child she had for him.

He said also that the father-in-law had returned the bride price paid by the petitioner on the respondent back to him and that there was no more love between them.

The respondent’s counsel, Dr. Oludayo Amokaye told the court that according to Igbo custom, once the bride-price has been refunded, the marriage is understood to have been dissolved.

The counsel to the petitioner, Mr.Chuks Uduhirinwa, then told the court  they came for the affirmation of the dissolution of marriage and custody of the child.

The petitioner, who pleaded to be granted custody of his only child, said the respondent moved away from his house in 2008 and now lives in Abuja with her new family.

“I am 100 per cent ready to take care of my child and give her the best education she deserves because I am a capable man,” he said.

The counsel to the respondent, in his response told the court that in the recent sitting, the maintenance and welfare of the child was the issue over which the parties were asked to go and deliberate on, and that the child, Favour, should also appear in the open court.

He said they were even ready to give the child to the petitioner since he wanted her.

He, however, also told the court that the petitioner’s counsel had not discussed anything about the welfare and maintenance of the girl with him but, had only stuck with demand for custody.

The counsel to the petitioner then told the court that after the last sitting, he tried his best to reach Dr.Amokaye but he kept on giving him excuses of not having a chance.

The petitioner said he wanted the custody of the child to give her the best care and to send her to a good school that has good learning facilities.

However, he said that the respondent had not been giving the things he usually bought for the child to her, his daughter, countered it, saying: “I got the bag full of gifts, even the computer game.”

The counsel to the petitioner, at the last sitting, said since the respondent’s counsel was not around and he was represented by Miss V.O.Ogbogu, he then tendered an application that the court should give an order that the party should abide on the issue of maintenance and welfare and that the court should make a decision on a particular day.