The Alimosho Grade “B” Customary Court sitting at Iyana Ipaja has dissolved the marriage between Mr. Olusanya Ogunlana and Mrs. Bisola Ogunlana on account of adultery committed by the wife on the first Sunday of this year with a former pastor, Mr. Abayomi Aranilewa.
Mr. Ogunlana had filed a petition before the court seeking dissolution of the marriage on grounds of infidelity, among others.
Responding to her husband’s allegation of adultery, Bisola had told the court during the proceedings that their next door neighbour at Block 48, Flat 3, Abesan Housing Estate, near Ipaja Town, Mr. Aranilewa, who was a former pastor, raped her on 3rd January this year.
She told the court that she was raped when she visited him in his flat when her husband and children as well as Aranilewa’s family members had gone to church.She alleged that Aranilewa tore her dress and underwear forcefully had sex with her and he even infected her with a sexually transmitted disease.
However, her husband, Mr. Ogunlano countered her alibi, stressing that he instituted the divorce action having been convinced that his wife continued the amorous affairs with Aranilewa.Ogunlana stated that one night he caught Bisola making a phone call in a business centre and the words he heard from her conversation showed that she was addressing an elderly man.
The petitioner added that he later discovered that Aranilewa was the man having illicit affairs with his wife.
Ogunlana stated that he was convinced Aranilewa did not rape his wife as claimed because he showed him text messages Bisola sent to him. In fact, he said it was his wife who chased his next door neighbour before the amorous affair started.
Worse still, the petitioner said the illicit affair continued even after it became known to him, adding that that was the reason why he instituted the divorce suit.Delivering judgment, the president of the court, Mrs. H.Q. Olatunji said with the evidence before the court, it was obvious the marriage had broken down irretrievably.
The court therefore dissolved the marriage and granted the custody of the three children to the petitioner.
The court ruled that the education and feeding of the children was the responsibility of their father while their health was for both parents to look after. The respondent was allowed access to the children at an agreed location and time.
The court also ordered Mr. Ogunlana to pay his former wife the sum of N20,000 and ruled that any of the parties not satisfied with the judgement should feel free to file an appeal before the High Court within 30 days.
Bisola however signified her intention to contest the judgement in the High Court.During the proceedings, the court was constrained to remand Bisola in prison custody at Kirikiri, Apapa, Lagos for contempt of court.
Mr. Ogunlana had reported her to the court for flouting the court’s order to maintain the peace and for visiting her former matrimonial home in disregard of the court order.