An Ekiti State Customary Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has dissolved the 22 years union between a preacher, Mr. Joshua Ajagunigbala and his partner Rita due to irreconcilable problems, notably infidelity.
Following charges that his wife had been promiscuous, most recently with a well-known herbalist in Ikere-Ekiti, the pastor sought a divorce in court. The marriage produced four children.
The herbalist, Kehinde Fadayomi (Ejiogbe) was thought to have passed away from magun (anti-infidelity charm found among the Yoruba of South West Nigeria) on January 2, 2023, after having sex with the cleric’s wife in a hotel.
The cleric, in his petition, pleaded with the court to dissolve their union on grounds of adultery, and also sought custody of their children.
The petitioner, in his evidence stated that he did not pay the respondent’s dowry, noting, however, that they had both lived together for more than 22 years.
He added that this would be the third time he would drag his wife to court on the grounds of adultery.
Joshua stated that the respondent, in 2017, had an illicit affair with a herbalist called Ifadayomi aka Ejiogbe, who is now late.
He alleged that the man died on the respondent while they were having sex in a hotel in Ikere-Ekiti on January 2, 2023, after which thugs loyal to the herbalist destroyed his house and Church in Ikere.
Thus, the petitioner declared that he is no longer interested in the union, asking the court to dissolve the marriage, and grant him custody of their children.
Delivering his judgment, the court president, Joseph Oyedele, said there was no legal customary marriage between the two, declaring that both were, therefore, free to go their separate ways.
He said: “Having gone through all the oral evidence presented before this court, it has been discovered that there was no legal customary marriage between the parties and as such there was no marriage to be dissolved.
The court hereby declares that “both parties are now free to go their different ways and maintain peace.”
Oyedele, however, ordered that the petitioner take full responsibility for the welfare and education of the last two children because they are still minor.
“On the issue of the custody of the children, the court can only give order on the last two children of their marriage because they are yet to reach the age of maturity. The first two children are free to decide with whom they want to live between the two parties because they are no longer minor.
“However, the court orders that the last two children of the union are to be with the petitioner and he should be responsible for their welfare and education.”
