A middle-aged man named Theophilus Ayodeji Obayan has taken his estranged wife, Chibuzor Lillian Obayan, to a Grade ‘A’ Customary Court in Oke-Eda Akure, Ondo State. The reason for this legal action is Chibuzor’s decision to change their children’s surname to that of her new lover. Theophilus, who initiated the court proceedings on Thursday, August 10, 2023, is seeking the dissolution of their 23-year-old marriage and custody of their four children.
According to Theophilus, their marriage has been plagued with various issues such as crises, abuse, disobedience, misunderstanding, lies, manipulation, hate, and rage. He revealed that he and Chibuzor got married in 2000 and have four children together. However, being from different tribes – Theophilus being Yoruba and Chibuzor being Igbo – he claims to have faced immense difficulties with her family, who do not approve of him.
The petitioner further explained that Chibuzor left their marital home in 2019 and moved in with another man, changing her own name as well as the children’s surname to match that of her new partner. Theophilus expressed his frustration at not being allowed access to his children since their mother’s departure. Therefore, he is urging the court to dissolve the marriage and grant him custody of their four children, while requesting that their names be changed back to his surname.
In defense, Chibuzor countered Theophilus’s claims by stating that her husband was extremely irresponsible. She accused him of physically assaulting and abusing her, leading to injuries and fractures. Chibuzor argued that Theophilus was not a good husband or father to their children as he failed to provide financial support, including paying their school fees. Moreover, she pointed out that Theophilus did not pay her dowry, which further contributed to her decision to find a new partner and have her children bear his surname instead.
Chibuzor also emphasized that their children are now of age to make their own decisions, as the girls are 22 and 20 years old, while the boys are 18 and 16 years old. She believes that they should have the freedom to choose their surname for themselves.
The court will now have the responsibility of carefully considering both parties’ arguments, the evidence presented, and the best interests of the children before making a decision on the dissolution of the marriage and custody of the children.
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