My wife has abandoned our 12-year marriage, a man tells the court

FCT High Court has dissolved a 12 year old marriage between Emeka Emea and his wife, Helen Chukwuemeka, due to desertion.

According to the Nigerian News Agency (NAN), Emeka has petitioned the court for a dissolution order for his marriage.

Court judge Peter Kekemeke described desertion as withdrawing from cohabitation without the consent of the other spouse and with the intention of remaining separated forever.

“It is a voluntary withdrawal by a married person from the obligations of married life.

“The only evidence available in court is that she has moved out of their marital home since 2018.

“The petitioner, her husband was unaware of her intention not to return to the matrimonial home,” he insisted.

The judge ruled that the petitioner contacted her parents, but that he did not receive a positive response.

“She was served with legal proceedings but failed to file an answer.

“She also failed and refused to give her own side of the story,” the judge ruled.

“Evidence shows that the petitioner did not consent to the act of desertion of the defendant.

“There was no evidence of arguing, cruelty or other reasons that would justify the respondent’s action.

“In the circumstances of this case, I am of the opinion that the petitioner has proved that the defendant has left the marital home.

“As a result, the marriage between the applicant and the defendant has irretrievably broken down, and I can confirm that.

“The marriage between Emeka and Helen Amarachi Chukwuma, celebrated on May 1, 2010, is hereby dissolved,” he said.

The petitioner had previously told the court that there was no child from their marriage.

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