I want to see my child, US-based professor tells court

From Lateef Dada, Osogbo

A US-based professor, Adekunle Oloki, has approached the District Customary Court, Erin-Osun, Osun State, seeking an order from the court, directing her former wife Kafayat Oyetunji, to give him access to his daughter.

He alleged that his daughter’s name had been changed from Nadirah Lawal-Oloki to Oyetunji, the name of her new husband, Ataoja of Osogbo.

In a motion filed by her counsel, Asafa Olaore, the plaintiff claimed that the defendant took her daughter to eve with her in her matrimonial home, at Ataoja of Osogbo’s palace, without the consent of the plaintiff.

“The defendant has changed the name of the plaintiff’s daughter from Nadirah Lawal-Oloki to Nadirah Oyetunji.

“The plaintiff has more than sufficient wherewithal necessary in taking proper care and nurturing of his daughter to any standard.

“The plaintiff, if granted custody of his child by this Honourable Court, is quite ready to continue taking full responsibility for the total needs, education and well-being of the child.

“The plaintiff’s daughter is a United States citizen and the plaintiff has commenced efforts and moves to make and enable the child fully acquire her citizenship,” counsel stated.

Addressing the court, counsel to the plaintiff, Olaore urged the court to direct the defendant to allow the plaintiff to have access to his daughter.

But the respondent’s counsel, SB Ajibade, said the plaintiff was never denied access to his daughter, saying “he has run away since 2015 and abandoned his responsibility.”

The president of the customary court, K. B. Adeyinka, thereby adjourned the matter to December 14 for hearing.