LAGOS – Justice Lateefa Okunnu of an Ikeja High Court, Lagos, on Monday, dismissed the suit filed by wife of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Mrs Taiwo Obasanjo which sought to postpone the wedding of her son, Olujonwo, to Tope Adebutu.
The Judge held that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the suit because Olujonwo, 33, is an adult.
While Mrs. Taiwo Obasanjo was present in court, his husband, former President Obasanjo and the father of the bride, Kessington Adebutu, who are respondents to the suit were however absent in court.
Prompt News recalls that Mrs Obasanjo had on March 27, 2017, approached the court to move Olujonwo’s wedding billed for May 11 to any date after June 1 which is his 34th birthday.
Mrs Obasanjo told the court that she had received various warnings and prophecies from men of God that her son should not be involved in any elaborate celebration before his birthday.
But, Counsel to Obasanjo and Adebutu, Mr Bode Olanipekun, prayed thus:
“We urge your Lordship to dismiss this suit based on jurisdictional challenges.
“Under Section 261 of the Child’s Act, this court has no jurisdiction because the child is above 18-years.
“The claimants have not disclosed a reasonable cause of action and no laws were cited in their address.
“I urge your Lordship to dismiss this suit.”
In her ruling, Justice Okunnu, said “On March 27, I ordered counsel to direct me on whether the family court can hear a case where the child is an adult.
“Counsel have addressed me and I have read the processes before me.
“I have found to be very genuine, what the applicant said regarding performing her parental duties in paragraph 15 of her affidavit.
“The court, regrettably, lacks the competence to adjudicate this suit, the jurisdiction of the family court covers children under the age of 18 years.
“The respondents son is 33-years-old, this negates the ability of this court to entertain this suit.
“The proper order to give is one dismissing this suit in its entirety, I hereby dismiss this suit.”
