A housewife, Lillian Obayan, has told the Court in Ondo State why she changed the surname of her four children to her new lover’s surname after 23 years of marriage to her husband, Ayodeji Obayan, because he did not pay her bride price.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that Mrs. Lilian stated this before the Customary Court in Oke-Eda, Akure Town, Ondo State, where the embattled husband, Obayan, filed a suit seeking for the establishment of the paternity of his children.
“Obayan was 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 get married to. And my new lover 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 more 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.”
An embittered man, Obayan, made the move before the Court and expressed deep anger over the situation. He vowed to pursue legal intervention to ensure his rights as the biological father of his children are upheld.
“I decided to approach the Court for its assistance following my wife’s decision to change our children’s surname without my consent.”
While testifying before the Court, Obayan stated that their 23-year old marriage had been plagued by constant crises and abuse and in 2019, Lillian packed her belongings and left their home to move in with another man.
“To make matters worse, my estranged wife proceeded to change not only her name but also the surnames of our children in order to match the name of her new lover. I want the Court to reverse Lilian’s decision and grant me the custody of our children as their biological father.”
The contentious issues before the Court included if Ayodeji has right over the children since he did not properly get married to Lilian by paying her bride price and if Lilian has right to change the surname of their children because Obayan did not pay her bride price.
Meanwhile, the President of the Court, Olusegun Rotiba, pleaded with the parties to allow peace to prevail between them and subsequently adjourned the case till 28th September, 2023, for continuation and adoption of oral addresses and possible judgment over the matter.