Adekunbi Osho, a 45-year-old pastor who accused his wife of blackmailing him with adultery, got his wish on Monday when his six-year-old marriage was dissolved by an Igando Customary Court in Lagos.
The marriage had irreversibly broken down, according to the court’s President, Adeniyi Koledoye, and it was fair for both parties to go their own ways.
“Since the petitioner insisted on divorce after several interventions, the court is, therefore, left with no option than to grant him his wish.
“The court hereby pronounces the marriage between pastor Adekunbi Osho and Mrs Rebecca Osho dissolved today.
“By this pronouncement, both of you have ceased to be husband and wife.
“Each of you should go his or her separate way unmolested; the court wishes both of you well in your future endeavours,” he held.
Mr Koledoye told Rebecca to stop going around the petitioner in an attempt to embarrass him.
On April 6, Mr Adekunbi filed a petition in court to dissolve his marriage, accusing Rebecca of defaming his character.
“My wife wants to destroy my career; she keeps going to my office, accusing me of sleeping with women.
“She is hindering my ministerial progress. Rebecca went to my local church, informed the leaders that I am a chronic adulterer.
“She also wrote a letter to my general overseer, tarnishing my image.
“Rebecca has stopped my promotion on three occasions because of her series of reports to the church authority which made me remain stagnant in the same position,” he said.
The pastor accused Rebecca of being troublesome.
“She fights me on daily basis, there was a day she attacked me in public and tore my clothes to pieces.
“She once arrested me with the police, claiming I sent assassins to kill her.
“She hates my family; she insults and fights them whenever they come visiting.”
According to him, Rebecca prevents him from carrying or playing with their daughter.
“I only carried the baby during her naming ceremony; the girl is now three years old.”
He had requested that the marriage be annulled and that he be given custody of their only child.
Rebecca, a 36-year-old civil servant, remained unresponsive to the allegations.
She claimed that the pastor was not her daughter’s biological father.
“Adekunbi is not the father of my daughter. I was impregnated by my lover while living and married to my husband.
“He should better not claim the paternity of another man’s child,” Rebecca told the court.
