NAN-H-10
Divorce
Omu-Aran (Kwara) Feb. 8, 2017 (NAN) No fewer than 64 divorce cases were filed in courts in Omu-Aran in 2016, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
The cases were filed in the area courts, magistrates’ court, upper area court and the high court.
NAN checks revealed that 49 cases were filed at the area courts, while the remaining 15 were at the magistrate court, upper area court and the high court.
Similarly, 24 marriages were dissolved, 15 amicably resolved, while 25 are still pending in the courts.
Some of the reasons given by the petitioners are lack of care, assault, desertion and lack of love between parties.
NAN reports the number of divorce cases has been on the increase as 46 cases were filed in 2015.
NAN gathered that increasing number of divorce cases due to irreconcilable differences has become a source of worry to judges and community leaders in the area.
Mr Samuel Fagbemi, an Upper Area Court Judge in Omu-Aran, said this development constituted extra burden and more challenges to the judiciary.
He said the incidence had also contributed to the nation’s insecurity challenges.
“It is quite evident that majority of the children of these broken marriages are the ones now indulging in armed robbery, kidnapping and other illicit acts.
“We, on our part have never shied away as part of our judicial responsibilities to mediate between parties to ensure amicable settlement of their differences,” he said.
Mr Abolade Banigbe, an Area Court Judge, called for the strengthening of the Citizens Mediation and Conciliation Centres to check the trend.
He called for the extension of the centre’s services to the grassroots for better coverage and performance.
“It is when the community and its people are in relative peace that we can also be at peace in the discharge of our responsibilities,” he said.
Chief Bisi Adeyemi, the President, Omu-Aran Development Association, advised couples to learn to respect the vows they before their union to avoid unwarranted litigation.
Adeyemi, who is also the Akeweje of Omu-Aran, appealed to religious leaders to always devote substantial part of their preaching to conjugal love and kindness.
He expressed the association’s desire to continue to sensitise the people on the need to embrace unity, tolerance and peaceful co-existence to move the community forward. (NAN)
ISHO/TA
Edited by Tajudeen Atitebi