UI lecturer asks court to dissolve her 20-year marriage to professor

A lecturer at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Dr Bilikis Babarinde, has asked a Grade A Customary Court, Iyaganku, Ibadan, to dissolve her 20-year-old marriage to her husband, Prof. Sikiru Babarinde.

The appellant, who lectures at the Department of Library, Archival and Information Studies, Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan, is married to Prof. Sikiru Adekola Babarinde, of the Department of Early Childhood and Education Foundation in the same institution.

She told the court that her marriage to her husband had broken down iritrievably hence her press for dissolution.

In her claim, Bilikis prayed the court to grant her the custody, care and control of their three children, Halimah Babarinde, Mahmudah Babarinde and Waliyyah Babarinde.

She also asked that her husband take full responsibility for the three children till they complete their university and post-graduate education.

One of Bilikis’s counsel, Olufemi Adegoroye said Professor Babarinde agreed to the petitioner’s claim, but his counsel, Yusuf Anikulapo filed an application before the court on the ground that the marriage was conducted under Islamic law and the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the case.

The counsel stated his client informed him that Bilikis had been dragged before the Chief Imam of UI where the marriage was dissolved but said it never happened.

The defence counsel, Yusuf Anikulapo, argued that the customary court lacked the jurisdiction to dissolve a marriage conducted under Islamic law.

Meanwhile, the President of the Court, R.B. Gbadamosi, has adjourned till April 11, 2022, for hearing of the preliminary objection.