Divorce Saga: Absence of Former Oshimili South LG Chairman, His Legal Team Stall Court Hearing

The court had on the 19th of June this year fixed hearing on the suit for June 4th, but could not proceed due to the absence of the respondent, Mr Obi Kelvin Ezenyili who is the People’s Democratic Party Chairmanship candidate for July 13 local government election in Oshimili South.

The counsel to the respondent, Ariomaghwa Medjor Esq, forwarded a written application for adjournment before His Lordship V. Rapu informing the court of his involvement in handling a criminal case at the Federal High Court Asaba.

Harrison Urorho Esq who appeared along with Steel Alfred Eshibuogwu Esq. for the petitioner however objected vehemently to the written application for adjournment insisting that the respondent, Mr Obi Kelvin Ezenyili was deliberately frustrating the hearing of the case.

After hearing the arguments of counsel to the petitioner, the president of the court adjourned the case to the 22nd of July for definite hearing and urged all parties to the suit to be in court on the next adjourned date.

It will be recalled that Mrs Uche Mary Rose Ezenyili had, in a divorce suit number UDCC/6/ 2024 and dated 12th April 2024 at the Ubulu – Okiti District customary court sought dissolution of her marriage with the Ex LG chairman, which according to her has gone broken down irretrievably on account of incompatibility and lack of love among several other reasons.

After several adjournments at the instance of the respondent, the case was transferred back to the headquarters of the State Customary Court of Appeal in Asaba following a petition by the respondent requesting a member of the Ubulu – Okiti customary court to recuse herself from hearing the case because of her alleged relationship with the petitioner.

The case was subsequently transfered to Oko village, the home town of the respondent at the behest of the respondent but following security concerns raised by the petitioner, the case, again suffered another set back until it was reassigned to the Asaba District Customary Court where the hearing was supposed to commence on Friday but did not due to the absence of the respondent and his counsel.

The president of the Asaba District Customary Court, His Lordship, V. Rapu has, however adjourned the case to the 22nd of July, 2024 for definite hearing with a request that parties to the suit should make themselves available in court .

Speaking to Journalists at the end of proceedings, the petitioner decried the absence of her husband and his defence team in court describing it as a ploy to unnecessarily delay the quick dispensation of Justice in the matter by frustrating the commencement of hearing in the case, adding that there was no going back in her resolve to seek justice in what she referred to as “a marriage that has turned toxic’’.

Mrs Ezenyili, in an emotion-laden voice passionately urged the court to grant her prayers and go ahead to dissolve the marriage, adding that she had suffered a lot of emotional , mental and psychological torture as a result of the failed relationship.