Ondo court ends 12-year marriage over domestic abuse

By Boye Oyeyemi

An Akure Customary Court has dissolved the 12-year marriage between Moradeke Babalola and her husband, Temitope Babalola, citing domestic violence and the irretrievable breakdown of the union.

Delivering judgment, the President of the court, A.S. Obademi, held that the marriage could no longer be sustained following evidence of persistent abuse and the couple’s prolonged separation.

The petitioner told the court that the marriage was contracted in December 2013 under Yoruba Native Law and Custom after all traditional rites were duly observed.

She testified that although they dated for about a year before marriage, her husband allegedly became abusive after the wedding, subjecting her to repeated acts of violence.

Moradeke said she eventually left the matrimonial home in June 2025 after enduring what she described as unbearable abuse. She also tendered photographs from their traditional marriage ceremony and images allegedly showing injuries inflicted by the respondent.

The court noted that despite several adjournments, the respondent, his lawyer and members of his family repeatedly failed to appear to defend the suit.

Obademi ruled that the unchallenged evidence before the court established that efforts by family members to reconcile the parties had failed. He further observed that the marriage produced no children and that the couple had stopped living together as husband and wife.

Consequently, the court dissolved the marriage, stating that the respondent’s continued absence showed a lack of interest in the proceedings and confirmed that the relationship had broken down beyond repair.