“I have suffered a lot at the hands of her family” man narrates ordeal in court as his wife changes their children’s last name to her lover’s

In Akure, the Ondo state capital, a Nigerian man is seeking divorce in a law court after his wife allegedly changed their children’s last name to her lover’s name.

Theophilus Ayodeji Obayan, a husband and father of four has been married to his wife, Chibuzor Lilian Obayan for twenty three (23) years.

In a recent development, Obayan filed a petition before a Customary Court in Oke-Eda Akure, Ondo State, praying the court to dissolve his 23-year-old marriage to Lilian and grant him custody of their four children which his estranged wife has denied him access since she left him for another man, claiming that their children were old enough to choose who they want to be with.

Obayan in his petition before the law court, noted that he has suffered so much hate in the hands of his wife’s family who he said do not like him.

Obayan, who appeared in court Thursday, said his wife left his house in 2019 to be with another man who she loves.

He added that since then, Chibuzor has denied him access to his four kids, all of whom are above 18 years of age.

He said “My lord, my marriage from the onset was characterised by crises, abuse, disobedience, misunderstanding, lies, manipulation, hate, and rage,” Obayan began.

“I married Lilian in the year 2000 and we have four children. I am a Yoruba, while my wife is of the Igbo tribe. I have suffered a lot at the hands of her family because they don’t love me, but I’ve been enduring.

“Lilian packed her belongings out of my house to another man’s house in 2019 and went to change her name, including my children’s surname to the name of the Igbo man she’s engaged to.”

Responding to the allegations, his wife, Lilian, who also appeared in court same day, did not show any remorse her actions as she blamed her decision to move out on her husband’s irresponsible nature.

According to Chibuzor, she had endured with Theophilus for too long.

“My lord, life was not easy for me over the years we have been together. In fact, Obayan derived pleasure in always molesting and beating me to the extent that I sustained body fractures.

“Obayan is not a good husband to me and a good father to his children, as he doesn’t pay their school fees nor care about how they are living.

“He didn’t pay my dowry. So, I finally found a man to marry. And my new love wants my children to bear his name instead of that of their irresponsible father

“Our children are old enough to choose for themselves as they are no longer kids. My first two girls, Mayomi and Damilola are 22 and 20 years old, while the boys, Ariyo and Aduragbemi are 18 and 16 years old respectively,” Lilian told the court.

The court’s president, Magistrate Olusegun Rotiba, in his ruling, advised the parties to allow peace to reign and adjourned the matter till September 28, 2023, for continuation and adoption of oral addresses or probably judgment.