Summary:
- Ekiti State Pastor Joshua Ajagunigbala files for divorce following wife Rita’s affair with a herbalist, which ended in the herbalist’s tragic death during their sexual encounter.
- The marriage dissolution case reveals that there was no legal customary marriage between the couple due to the lack of dowry payment.
- The court orders Pastor Joshua to take responsibility for the welfare and education of the two minor children, while the elder children can choose whose care they prefer.
Ekiti State, Nigeria (MandyNews) A shocking revelation has led to the dissolution of a 22-year-old union between Pastor Joshua Ajagunigbala and Rita Ajagunigbala in Ekiti State.
The marriage crumbled after a tragic incident in which a herbalist, known as Ifidayomi or Ejiogbe, died during a sexual encounter with Rita Ajagunigbala at a hotel in Ikere-Ekiti.
Pastor Joshua filed for divorce at the Ekiti State Customary Court, seeking the dissolution of his marriage with Rita on the grounds of adultery.
He also requested that the court grant him custody of their children. During the hearing, Pastor Ajagunigbala revealed that he had not paid Rita’s dowry, and they had lived together for over 22 years, raising a family.
The pastor also told the court that this was the third time he had brought his wife to court on the basis of adultery. He alleged that Rita began her illicit affair with the late herbalist, Ifidayomi, in 2017. On January 2, 2023, the herbalist died while having intercourse with Rita at a hotel in Ikere-Ekiti.
This tragic event sparked chaos, leading to the destruction of Pastor Ajagunigbala’s home and church by a group of thugs.
The church authorities suspended Pastor Joshua as a result of his wife’s actions. He expressed his disinterest in continuing the union and pleaded with the court to dissolve the marriage and grant him custody of their children.
In her defense, Rita admitted to having a sexual relationship with the late herbalist, stating that it was due to a lack of care from her husband.
She claimed that she had been the one providing for their children’s needs, including food and education. Rita further stated that her debt had piled up, and it was the late Ejiogbe who helped her pay it off.
During the hearing, the court noted that their marriage was not legally recognized since no dowry was paid, and as such, there was no marriage to dissolve.
The court’s president, Mr. Joseph Oyedele, ruled that since there was no legal customary marriage between the couple, they were free to go their separate ways.
“Having gone through all the oral evidence presented before this Court, it was discovered that there was no legal customary marriage between parties herein, and there is no marriage available between parties to dissolve,” Oyedele said.
He continued, “The Court hereby orders that the parties are now free to go on their own without disturbing each other’s peace.”
The court ordered Pastor Ajagunigbala to take full responsibility for the welfare and education of the last two minor children produced by their union. The first two children, no longer considered minors, were free to decide under whose care they wished to live between the two parties.
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