Edo: Court dissolves journalist’s marriage, grants her custody of children

An Edo High Court sitting in Benin City, presided over by the Chief of the State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, has dissolved the 12-year marriage between Ms Best Mbiere, a female journalist and her estranged husband Mr Okechukwu Mbiere, over the irreconcilable breakdown of the union.

DAILY POST reports that the court delivered the judgment in a suit filed by the female journalist against her husband on May 17, 2023, seeking dissolution of the marriage and other reliefs.

The marriage, contracted on February 8, 2014, became the subject of legal proceedings in court.

Mbiere, a former reporter with the Independent Television and Radio, Benin City had told the court that she had borne the financial burden of the family since the respondent lost his job in 2018

The journalist who is now the founder of BeeTV News, an online television, among other reliefs, sought the custody of the children, monthly maintenance of N150,000, and a refund of N7 million allegedly used to establish a boutique business for the respondent.

She further prayed for the repayment of N21.5 million allegedly used to settle debts arising from fraud-related issues, and ownership of three properties in Edo.

On his part, the respondent, Mr

Okechukwu Mbiere, who did not oppose the dissolution of the marriage, however, challenged the request for custody of the children.

Mbiere argued that the children had been living with his mother because the petitioner’s demanding journalism career prevented her from adequately caring for them.

He also disputed ownership claims over three properties, insisting that one of them belonged to his mother.

In his judgment, Justice Okungbowa, held that both parties had consented to the dissolution of the marriage and that the union had broken down irretrievably.

Okungbowa while awarding custody of the couple’s three children to the petitioner, Best Mbiere, ruled that the welfare and best interests of the children remained paramount.

He noted that they were still of tender age and should remain in the custody of their mother.

The Chief Judge of Edo State also

directed the respondent to pay N100,000 monthly for the upkeep of the children, alongside their school fees, educational materials and medical expenses when necessary.

He, however, granted the respondent unhindered access to the children.

He further ordered the respondent to refund N21.5 million to the petitioner, being the amount of money she paid to offset debts linked to fraud allegations from the respondent’s former workplace.

On financial support, the court reduced the monthly maintenance claim from N150,000 to N100,000, citing the respondent’s financial capacity.

The judge also ordered the respondent to continue bearing responsibility for the children’s school fees and medical care.

Ruling on the disputed properties, the court declared one of them matrimonial property. However it awarded the two others to the respondent for lack of supporting evidence.

The court also declined to order the refund of the additional N7 million sought by the petitioner, citing a lack of evidence to substantiate the claim.