An Area Court in Centre-Igboro, Ilorin, has dissolved a 25-year-old marriage between Ramat Ibrahim and her estranged husband, Ibrahim Ayinla, citing lack of love as the primary reason.
The Presiding Judge, Hammad Ajumonbi, delivered the judgement on Wednesday, stating that the petitioner’s statement indicated the failure of all attempts at reconciliation.
The marriage, conducted in an Islamic manner, was officially dissolved by the court. Judge Ajumonbi noted that the first and second children were now adults, granting them the right to choose which parent they preferred to live with. As part of the ruling, the respondent was directed to assume full responsibility for the children’s feeding, school fees, and medical expenses to the best of his ability.
The judge further granted the petitioner permission to pack all her belongings from the matrimonial home. During the proceedings, Ramat Ibrahim expressed fear of returning to the respondent’s house, alleging his involvement in fetish practices and partiality with his co-wife as the reasons for seeking a divorce.
Despite her concerns, Ramat revealed her lack of employment and visible means of livelihood to support the children, leading her to request that they remain with the respondent for the time being. In response, the respondent affirmed his agreement with the petitioner’s decision for divorce, expressing a desire to avoid any further allegations by not having his wife in the house.
This legal resolution not only addresses the breakdown of the couple’s long-standing marriage but also takes into account the welfare of the children involved. The court’s decision reflects a balance between the concerns raised by both parties, providing a legal and amicable conclusion to a marital relationship that had endured for a quarter of a century.
