Ladipo Sanusi
A Lagos Island Customary Court, on Thursday, dissolved the marriage of Nollywood actor, Emeka Ike and his wife, Suzanne Emma.
The court ruled that the estranged lovers could finally go their separate ways.
The three-man panel, presided over by Chief Awos Awosola, dissolved the 17 years old union, while delivering judgment in a marriage dissolution suit, marked LCC/15/2015, filed by the actor’s wife.
Other members of the panel are: Mrs. Opeyemi Olanrewaju and Mr Kehinde Jacob Olayinka.
In its judgment, the court stated: “From all the evidence before the court, the marriage between the couple had broken down and it is irreconcilable, consequently, the marriage is hereby dissolved.”
The court, however, granted Emeka the custody of the four children, but ordered that their mother should be granted unhindered access to them.
The court said any party that is dissatisfied with the judgment should file an appeal within 30 days.
The court also received the photocopy of a bank draft of N300, dated July 20, 2016, with which Emma refunded the bride price her family received during her marriage to the actor.
In the suit she filed before the court, Emma accused Emeka of incessant beating, molestation and torture, which she said she could no longer endure.
But, Emeka in his response, pleaded with the court not to dissolve the marriage, while denying ever beating, molesting or torturing his wife.
Rather, he claimed that his wife had moved out of their matrimonial home five times without any reason.
He also informed the court that trouble began in their marriage from the time his wife had to pay the school fees of their children.
In an interview with Newsmakers after the judgment, Emma expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision.
She stated: “I am delighted with the judgement. I am happy that the court granted my request.”
She also said she had no plans to remarry, while advising other women going through what she experienced to be bold enough to file for divorce to set themselves free.
The separated couple had been living together for 17 years, but they formally got married in 2014, in Lagos.
How I wish such could happen in the western world where women controls all. In a divorce, except there is a reason beyond doubt that the woman cannot look after the children, custody automatically goes to the woman, guilty or not guilty, yet the man would still have to pay through his nostril for the woman upkeep in most cases.
Be patient before settling down, pray to meet your wife and not a vampire who pretends being a decent wife material. All said and done, some men too are not better than animals. An abusive husband is always worse than an infidel.