From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
Justice Michael Awe of Osun State High Court, Osogbo, has dissolved the eight-year-old marriage between a septuagenarian, Chief Isaac Morakinyo Jolapamo and his wife, Olufunke Otti-Jolapamo, over threat to life by wife.
The petitioner, Olufunke Otti-Jolapamo, told the court that the marriage has broken down irretrievably because the respondent behaved in such a way that she could not reasonably be expected to live with him.
She said she lived apart with the respondent for a continuous period of two years immediately preceding the presentation of the petition and that the respondent did not object to a decree being granted.
She sought a decree of dissolution of the marriage celebrated on February 23, 2017.
The respondent, Jolapamo, who claimed to be a retiree, tendered the certificate of marriage between him and the petitioner, saying cohabitation between him and the petitioner ceased since March 2019 and no proceeding had earlier been instituted between the parties.
According to him, the petitioner was out to strip him of his belongings by entering into the marriage celebrated between them and that she had succeeded in doing so. Also that the petitioner promised to send him to prison.
He contended that he had not condoned any of the petitioner’s behaviour, insisting that the petitioner behaved in an intolerable manner and that he has the evidence to prove that.
In the Certified True Copy of the judgement held on March 28, 2025, and obtained by our correspondent, Justice Awe said findings revealed that the marriage between the petitioner/cross respondent and the respondent/cross petitioner has broken down irretrievably on the ground that the parties lived apart for a continuous period of at least two years immediately preceding the presentation of the petition and both parties, as respondents to the petition and cross petition do not object to a decree being granted.
“Accordingly, the marriage subsisting between the parties is hereby dissolved.
“The extra or other reliefs sought by the respondent/cross petitioner in his cross petition, that is: an order striking out cross respondent’s petition; an order restraining cross respondent from assaulting, threatening to assault, intimidate him or in any way interfere with his well being mentally and physically; and an order granting cross petitioner’s claim regarding the real properties of the parties; are hereby altogether totally rejected; the said reliefs having not been made issues in controversy before this court or established by the cross petitioner in the suit,” Justice Awe said.