The 10-year old marriage of a couple, Stephanie and Geoffrey Ode, came to a crashing halt on Friday when an Igando Customary Court in Lagos dissolved the marriage on grounds of infidelity and abandonment.
The death knell was sounded on the marriage when the President of the Court, Mr Adeniyi Koledoye, in his judgement on the suit brought about by Stephanie, a trader, said that the court had no other choice than to dissolve the marriage.
“The court hereby pronounces the marriage between Stephanie and Geoffrey Ode dissolved today. Both of you henceforth cease to be husband and wife. Each of you should go on his or her separate ways unmolested; the court wishes both of you well in your future endeavours.”
The court granted custody of the three children to Stephanie and ordered Geoffrey to pay N20,000 monthly for their feeding as well as be responsible for their education and welfare.
The 39-year-old trader, Stephanie, had earlier petitioned that the court dissolve her marriage because of her husband’s infidelity.
”My husband was loving, caring and faithful when he was poor until he became rich. A businessman, based in London started sending him cars and power bikes to sell. When money began flowing in, he started flirting around with different women. He comes home late and drunk, sometimes, he will not even come home for days,” she told the court.
She further said that Geoffrey does not care for her nor the children and accused him of abandonment.
Stephanie then pleaded with the court to terminate the union and allow her to return the bride price in line with their custom.
Geoffrey, the respondent, who had been duly informed of the suit against him through the internet, was not in court and did not send any legal representative. (with NAN reports)
