Co-founder of Divine Prophetic Solutions Prayers Ministry, Prophet Obayan, has dragged his wife to court for abandoning him for a junior church worker.
Obayan approached a customary court sitting in Oke Eda, Akure, Ondo State, on whether his failure to pay his wife’s dowry could lead to him losing the paternity of his four children to his runaway wife.
The court adjourned its judgment on the matter till October 10, 2023.
The Prophet prayed the court dissolve his marriage of 23yrs to Prophetess Chibuzor Lilian Obayan.
He alleged that his wife absconded woth one of the church’s junior workers, Prince Abua Obi, along with his kids.
He explained that his wife has changed his children’s surname to that of her new husband, Obi.
The Prophet revealed that his wife’s new lover is in fact married, with kids of his own and that the couple attend their church.
“My wife and I have a ministry in Lagos with large congregation. But at present, she is married to Prince Abua Obi, a junior worker in our church where both of us led as shepherds.
“My lord, Prince Abua Obi, is legally married with children. He and his wife are both workers in our ministry. The couple used to revere us, such that they call my wife and I, daddy and mummy.
“But to my surprise, my wife started an illicit affair with the man and she is married to him now. She has re-registered the Church in 2019 and even changed my children’s surname to Obi,” Obayan petitioned the court.
Obayan also revealed that his wife had proceeded to change the name of the church as well.
“My wife went ahead to change the name of our church we co-founded from Divine Prophetic Solutions Prayers Ministry, to Peace of Jerusalem Revival Ministry in the same location.
“I have run to God and the court to seek justice on this matter. Let her leave me, but she should not take my children away from me,” he wrote the court.
Counsel to the respondent, T.B. Odudu, however countered that there never existed any marriage between the two Co-founders.
Odudu argued that, as per Obi customs and tradition, if the bride price of a woman has not been paid, the man is not viewed as a husband.
The Counsel informed the Court that six witnesses would testify to the fact that such customs exist and that Obayan never paid the said bride price.
“In Ibo land, it is their custom that if bride price has not been paid in any relationship, they don’t see the man as husband and father of his children,” she stated.
Bosun Otitoju, Counsel to the Petitioner, however argued that there was indeed a marriage ceremony between the petitioner and the respondent and that witnesses were willing to attest to that.
The petitioner’s counsel then cited the case of Agbeja (1985) 3 NWLR (Pt.11) 19, which held that, “in proof of customary marriage, the evidence of the Head of the family is desirable to prove an eyewitness account of the transaction is essential.”
Otitoju then prayed the court to grant the claims of his client.
After hearing both arguments, President of the Court, Magistrate Segun Stephen Rotiba, adjourned the matter till October 10, 2023.