Grade ‘A’ Customary Court in Oke-Eda, Akure, Ondo State, was on Friday approached by Ayodeji Obayan, a middle-aged man, seeking to establish paternity over his four children.
The action came after Lillian Obayan, his wife, revealed that she had altered their children’s names to match her new lover’s surname.
Obayan, who expressed deep anger over the situation, vowed to pursue legal intervention to ensure his rights as the biological father of his children were upheld.
He approached the court for its assistance following his wife’s decision to change their children’s surnames without his consent.
During his testimony before the court, Obayan stated that their 23-year-old marriage had been plagued by constant crises and abuse, revealing that in 2019, Lillian packed her belongings and left their home to move in with another man.
To make matters worse, he complained, his estranged wife proceeded to change not only her name but also the surnames of their children to match the name of her new lover.
Lilian, on her part, described Obayan as irresponsible.
Said she: “Obayan is 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 bride price. So, I finally found a man to marry. And my new love 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”.
Magistrate Olusegun Rotiba, the court’s president, however, pleaded with the parties to allow peace to prevail between them, and subsequently adjourned the case till September 28, 2023, for continuation and adoption of oral addresses and possible judgment.
