A pastor, Olamide Agbejaife, has officially ended his 30-year relationship with his partner, Mary, after filing for separation at the Mapo Grade A Customary Court in Ibadan.
The court granted his request, citing reasons such as consistent denial of intimacy, alleged food poisoning, and Mary’s indifferent behavior.
In delivering the judgment, court president O.E. Owoseni ruled that both parties were free to go their separate ways, noting that Mr. Agbejaife had lost interest in continuing the relationship.
The court also determined that their union did not qualify as a valid customary marriage, as there was no evidence of a bride price being paid—a necessary requirement under Nigerian customary law.
Ms. Owoseni further dismissed Mr. Agbejaife’s plea to restrain Mary from harassing or threatening him, stating that he failed to provide enough proof to support the claim.
During the proceedings, Mr. Agbejaife explained that his relationship with Mary changed in 2017 after he received a spiritual revelation that he would marry another woman.
He said Mary had since refused to be intimate with him and once tried to poison him.
He recalled an incident on December 6, 2021, when he suffered severe stomach pain after eating food she had prepared.
He also accused her of abandoning him for over a year following surgery in 2022 and claimed she falsely told someone he had died.
In her defense, Mary, a trader, pleaded with the court not to dissolve the relationship.
She expressed hope of enjoying the life they had built together and the children they shared.
She countered the pastor’s claims, saying he was the one who stopped being intimate and had moved out.
While she admitted they had occasional arguments, she denied any physical violence.
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