Court dissolves14-year-old marriage for lack of care

An Ado-Ekiti Customary Court on Tuesday dissolved the 14-year-old marriage between Funke and her husband, Samson Darmola of lack of care.

The President of the Court, Mr Joseph Ogunsemi, dissolved the marriage following the petitioner’s testimony‎ and the refusal of the respondent to appear in court to defend himself.

He awarded the custody of the three children, namely, Ayomide,14, Lekan, 8, and Timi Daramola,4, to the petitioner, while Adesola Daramola,11, was awarded to the respondent‎.

Ogunsemi said that the respondent shall be paying N2,500 as monthly upkeep allowance for each of the three children awarded to the petitioner.

He further ordered that payment of the money shall commence from Oct. 31 through the registry of the court.

The court president also granted unrestricted access to both parties to visit the children in their custody.

Funke Daramola, 39, a foodstuff trader and a resident of No. 23, Dalimore St. Ado-Ekiti, had earlier prayed the court to dissolve the marriage on grounds of desertion, lack of love and care for her and the children.

The petitioner told the court that she deliberately left the respondent’s house in April 2017 because she was suffering.

She said that whenever the respondent had money, he would abandon her and her ‎four children for six months and at times one year without considering their welfare.

Funke explained that ‎she has been the only one responsible for the education and feeding of the children.

The mother of four children said the ‎respondent did not give her peace of mind and often maltreated her.

The petitioner prayed the court to dissolve his marriage with the respondent ‎because she no longer love him.

She further prayed the court to award the custody of his four children to her for proper care.

Funke requested that the petitioner should be paying N2,500 as monthly feeding allowance for each of the children.

The mother of four children agreed that she and the respondent would be responsible for the education of the children.

The respondent, Mr Samson Daramola, ‎a carpenter, refused to honour the court’s summons thrice to defend himself .