A Grade A Customary Court sitting in Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has dissolved the 11-year-old marriage between Olajumoke Ogunsola and her husband, Femi Ogunsola, over allegations of irresponsibility, drunkenness and neglect.
The court, presided over by Mrs O.E. Owoseni, ruled on Thursday that the union should be terminated after the petitioner expressed no further interest in continuing the marriage.
The court subsequently awarded custody of the couple’s two children, aged eight and three, to Olajumoke.
The judge also directed the respondent to take responsibility for the children’s feeding, education and overall welfare.
In addition, the court restrained Femi from harassing, threatening or interfering in the private life of his estranged wife.
Earlier during the proceedings, Olajumoke told the court that her husband’s alleged lazy lifestyle and excessive drinking forced her to leave the marriage.
She explained that they met in South Africa while trying to build a better life and later got married on January 4, 2015.
According to her, problems started shortly after the wedding as her husband allegedly became addicted to smoking, drinking and staying out late at night, while neglecting his responsibilities to the family.
She told the court that she moved out of his residence on September 21, 2021, because she could no longer cope with his behaviour and appealed for custody of the children alongside financial support for their upkeep.
The respondent, however, failed to appear before the court to defend himself despite repeated hearing notices served on him, including through WhatsApp, according to the court bailiff.