… As Court dissolves marriage in the interest of peace***
A Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti has fixed Oct. 6 for judgment in a suit filed by the Ekiti Government, challenging the compulsory discharge of an unmarried pregnant policewoman from the force.
The suit was filed by the Attorney-General of the state, Wale Fapohunda.
The suit, seeks the striking out of section 127 of the Police Act and Regulations which the state government argues is discriminatory and violates constitutional provisions.”
Justice Babs Kuewumi fixed the date on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti after parties adopted their written addresses.
The newsmen report that the Ekiti Attorney General has filed a suit with suit number: AD/CS/8/2021 seeking an order of the court to declare the action of Inspector-General of the Police,(IG) against Omolola Olajide, illegal.
Newsmen also report that Olajide was discharged on Jan. 20 through the signal”CJ/4161/EKS/SHQ Vol. 30/22 on the grounds that she was pregnant without being married.
The Police Counsel, CSP Femi Falade, while adopting his addresses, argued that the Attorney-General of the Federation was the proper person to be sued.
Falade argued that the Attorney-General of Ekiti lacked the “locus standi”, to institute the suit.
He also argued that the discharged constable had filed a similar suit at the National Industrial Court.
The respondent’s counsel also added that no pre-action notice was served on the Police Service Commission, which he said was mandatory.
However, the Ekiti Attorney-General prayed the court to discountenance the submissions of the counsel to the police and uphold his prayers.
In a related development, a Mararaba Upper Area Court, Nasarawa State, on Thursday dissolved a 4-year-old marriage between one Chidiebere and her husband, Chikere Nna, in the interest of peace.
The Judge, Abubakar Tijjani, said he dissolved the marriage to halt the rampant beating of Chidiebere by her husband.
Tijjani said the parties should maintain peace at all time and that any violation of the order of the court would amount to contempt of court.
“Also, the parties should collect their divorce certificates from the Office of the Registrar and a refund of N5, 300 (dowry) should be made by Chidiebere to Nna,’’ he said.
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Chidiebere had told the court that she was married to the respondent since 2017 according to the native law and customs of Enugu State and the union produced no child.
The petitioner said that Nna had never given her peace, rather only pains, threats and insults.
“My husband is in the habit of beating me because our union did not produce a child.
“He said he never knew he married a fellow man and he would kill me if I do not move out of his house.
“At the expiration of our rent, he left me; rented another house without informing me. He informed my elder brother he had left me.
“He also demanded from my brother that the dowry he paid on me be returned to him because he had gotten another woman of his choice,” Chidiebere said.
The petitioner begged the court to separate them because the marriage had broken down irretrievably.
The respondent denied maltreating Chidiebere and urged the court to grant the Chidiebere’s prayers.
