Ibadan Court Declines to Dissolve Union Between Popular Pastor and Partner, Says No Valid Customary Marriage Existed

A Grade A Customary Court sitting in Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has ruled that there was no valid customary marriage between a pastor, Akorede, and his partner, Damilola, declaring that the couple merely cohabited and were therefore not legally married under customary law.

The decision came after Akorede approached the court seeking the dissolution of what he described as a troubled union, alleging incessant quarrels, domestic violence, threats to his life, and financial irresponsibility on the part of Damilola.

The pastor told the court that his partner made his life unbearable throughout their relationship, claiming she frequently picked fights over minor disagreements and often became violent.

According to him, Damilola repeatedly threatened him with a knife whenever they argued. He further alleged that on one occasion she disrupted a church service by confronting him with a cutlass in the presence of fellow pastors and members of the congregation, an incident he said subjected him to public embarrassment and damaged his ministerial reputation.

Akorede also accused Damilola of being wasteful and financially irresponsible. He alleged that she had an excessive appetite, claiming she routinely served herself unusually large portions of food and always took the biggest pieces of meat during meals.

In addition to asking the court to end the relationship, the pastor sought custody of their child, arguing that Damilola lacked the moral qualities required to raise the child. He also requested an order restraining her from harassing, threatening, or interfering with his private life.

While giving evidence, Akorede explained that they never conducted either a customary marriage or a formal wedding ceremony.

“My wife and I did not hold a wedding ceremony. We were only prayed for in church before we started living together as husband and wife,” he told the court.

He further alleged that he eventually concluded that his partner’s intention was to destroy his ministry.

“I realised too late that my wife’s mission in marrying me was to destroy my ministry. She was always on my neck, raised issues over trivial matters and would fight me at every opportunity.

“Whenever we had any argument, she would become violent and draw a knife on me. I lived in fear under the same roof with her.

“During one Sunday service, she created a scene in the church and threatened me with a cutlass before my co-pastors and the congregation. After that incident, I moved out because it was obvious my life was no longer safe.

“I sincerely became fed up with the relationship. Apart from being financially irresponsible, she is also a glutton. She would always serve herself large portions of food and take the biggest pieces of meat.

“I plead with the court to grant me custody of our child because she lacks the virtues required to raise the child properly,” he said.

Responding to the allegations, Damilola denied all the claims made against her but told the court that she also wanted the relationship to end.

She said she regretted entering the union because she had believed Akorede, as a minister of God, would remain faithful to her.

According to Damilola, her trust was shattered after she allegedly discovered that the pastor had impregnated an 18-year-old female member of his congregation.

“Everything my husband has said about me is false. I am also tired of the relationship and I consent to its end.

“I married him because I believed that, as a servant of God, he would remain faithful and committed to me. He betrayed my trust by impregnating an 18-year-old member of our congregation,” she told the court.

She urged the court to reject Akorede’s request for custody of their child and instead grant custody to her.

Damilola also asked the court to compel the pastor to assume full responsibility for the child’s welfare, including feeding, education and healthcare.

Delivering judgment, the President of the court, Mrs. O. E. Owoseni, held that there was no marriage for the court to dissolve because the parties failed to establish a valid customary marriage.

The court noted that no bride price was paid and that the couple merely lived together after prayers were offered for them in church.

Consequently, the court ruled that the relationship amounted to cohabitation rather than a legally recognised customary marriage.

Mrs. Owoseni granted custody of the couple’s child to the plaintiff and ordered the defendant to contribute ₦15,000 monthly toward the child’s feeding and upkeep.