The husband, a publisher and telecommunications engineer, therefore, approached a Lagos High Court to seek dissolution of his 14-year marriage with Ijeoma.
Nwabolo told the court that a family friend called his attention to the popular social networking site where his wife had gone to change her marital name, Nwabolo, to her maiden name, Onyeka. She also changed her marital status to single...
This prompted him to approach the probate family division of the court to dissolve his marriage to Ijeoma, because all avenues to reconcile with her were rebuffed by her and her family.
The 46-year old engineer informed the court that the marriage which was solemnised on 3 August, 1996 at St. Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland, Lagos, has broken down irreconcilably and his wife could not be traced.
Led in evidence by his counsel, T. O. Taiwo, he told the court that his wife deserted their matrimonial home without any notice or quarrel.
Nwabolo said on 7 August, 2006, he travelled to Abuja for an important meeting with the Belgian Ambassador to naija. When he got to Abuja, all attempts to speak with his wife on phone proved abortive.
“When I arrived in Abuja, I called my wife but all her lines were switched off. Later, I had a call from my driver informing me that my house was empty and my wife was nowhere to be found. I immediately went to the airport and boarded the next available flight to Lagos for verification.
“On getting home, I discovered that she has left our Lagos, residence with all my property and our marriage certificate. I tried all my best possible to locate her but to no avail.
“When I called her uncle, he was not forthcoming. So I got the church that solemnised us involved but she rebuffed all attempts for reconciliation,” he said.
He added that the tribunal of the Catholic Church which includes the Archbishop of Lagos and other bishops sat and advised him that the marriage had become null and void because all efforts for reconciliation were defeated by his wife and her family.
The presiding Judge, Justice Olubunmi Oyewole, subsequently adjourned the matter for further hearing.
—Jamiu Yisa
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