By Usman Aliyu
An Edo High Court in Benin on Monday dissolved the 12-year-old marriage between a renowned female journalist, Best Mbiere, and her estranged husband, Okechukwu Mbiere, over what it described as an irretrievable breakdown of the union.
Justice Daniel Okungbowa of Edo High Court, also awarded custody of the couple’s three children to the petitioner, Best Mbiere.
The judge also ordered the respondent to refund N21.5 million she paid to offset debts linked to fraud allegations from his former workplace.
Okungbowa, who is the Chief Judge of Edo, further directed the respondent to pay N100,000 monthly for the upkeep of the children, alongside their school fees, educational materials and medical expenses when necessary.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the marriage, contracted on Feb. 8, 2014, became the subject of legal proceedings after the petitioner filed a suit on May 17, 2023, seeking its dissolution and several ancillary reliefs.
Mbiere, a former reporter of the Independent Television and Radio, Benin City, but now the founder of BeeTV News had told the court that she had borne the financial burden of the family since the respondent lost his job in 2018.
She sought custody of the children, monthly maintenance of N150,000, refund of N7 million allegedly used to establish a boutique business for the respondent.
She also sought repayment of N21.5 million allegedly used to settle debts arising from fraud-related issues, and ownership of three properties in Edo.
The respondent did not oppose the dissolution of the marriage but challenged the request for custody of the children.
He argued that the children had been living with his mother because the petitioner’s demanding journalism career prevented her from adequately caring for them.
He also disputed ownership claims over three properties, insisting that one of them belonged to his mother.
In his judgment, Justice Okungbowa held that both parties had consented to the dissolution of the marriage and that the union had broken down irretrievably.
He ruled that the welfare and best interests of the children remained paramount, noting that they were still of tender age and should remain in the custody of their mother.
The judge, however, granted the respondent unhindered access to the children.
On financial support, the court reduced the monthly maintenance claim from N150,000 to N100,000, citing the respondent’s financial capacity.
Justice Okungbowa also ordered the respondent to continue bearing responsibility for the children’s school fees and medical care.
On the disputed properties, he declared one of them matrimonial properties, but, awarded the two others to the respondent for lack of supporting evidence.
The court also declined to order the refund of the additional N7 million sought by the petitioner, citing lack of evidence to substantiate the claim. (NAN)
