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From Lateef Dad, Osogbo
A clergy man in Osun State, Pastor Ajayi Joshua, has dragged his wife, Ajayi Lucia, to the court, seeking an end to his 16-year-old marriage.
Led in evidence by his lawyer, Oyebode Babalola, before the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Oyebola Adepele-Ojo, on Wednesday, Joshua told the court that he has agreed with the respondent to end the marriage.
Joshua who claimed to be a farmer and a Pastor, told the court that the marriage started in 2009 at Ilesa East, but consummation with the respondent has ceased since 2013.
He said, “There are two children in the marriage. The children are with the respondent. I’ve been paying their school fees. I want the children to be with her but she should allow them to visit me during holidays. I will be paying their school fees.”
Asked by the Judge why he wanted to end the marriage when the two of them still have good conversation, Joshua said they have agreed to end the marriage.
The respondent who had no legal representative, told the court that there have been interventions from different quarters but the petitioner insisted that the marriage must end.
“Lucia said many people have intervened but he insisted on divorce. He usually pay school fees but very late. The money he sends for feeding does not meet up with the economic realities,” Lucia said.
Asked whether she has particular amount she wanted from the petitioner, Lucia said, “I don’t have particular amount I want to be collecting for upkeep of the children because of the astronomical increase in the price of things. But he should be considerate because I would have struggled to pay the school fees before he send it at times.”
Babalola prayed the court to invoke Section 15(1)(2) of the matrimonial causes act since the marriage has broken already.
Justice Adepele-Ojo thereby adjourned to April 9, 2025 for judgement.
