Man Seeks Divorce After Wife Allegedly Attempts To Change Children’s Surname to Lover’s

A middle-aged man named Theophilius Obayan has taken legal action by bringing his wife, Chibuzor Lillian Obayan, before a Customary Court in Oke-Eda, Akure, seeking the dissolution of their 23-year-old marriage.

The man claims that his wife attempted to change the paternity of their four children.

Obayan alleges that his estranged wife intentionally changed their children’s last name to match her new husband’s name. He is urging the court to dissolve their long-standing marriage due to this situation.

In his statement before the court, Obayan says, “My marriage from the onset was characterized with crises, abuse, disobedience, misunderstanding, lies, manipulation, hate, and rage. I married Lilian in the year 2000, and we have four children. I am Yoruba, while my wife is of Igbo tribe. I have suffered a lot in the hands of her family because they don’t love me, but I’ve been enduring.”

He further explains that his wife left their home in 2019 and went on to change her name, along with their children’s surname, to match the name of the Igbo man she is engaged to.

Obayan reveals that he has been denied access to his children since his wife’s departure and is requesting the court to dissolve the marriage, grant him custody of the children, and reinstate his name as their surname.

In her defense, Lilian asserts that her former husband, Obayan, was grossly irresponsible and abusive. She explains, “Obayan derived pleasure in always molesting and beating me to the extent that I sustained body fractures. 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.”

Lilian also clarifies that her new partner wishes for her children to bear his name instead of their father’s. She points out that their children are of age to make such decisions themselves.

The court’s President, Magistrate Olusegun Rotiba, urges both parties to seek a peaceful resolution and adjourns the case until September 28, 2023, for further proceedings, including oral addresses or a possible judgment.