popular
Nollywood actor, Emeka Ike has informed a Lagos Island Customary Court
that he had filed an application before a High Court restraining the
lower court from hearing the divorce suit filed by his estranged wife,
Emma.
Emma had sometime in
2015 approached the court to dissolve the 16 year union between her and
the Nollywood actor on grounds of incessant battery.
Emeka had denied the allegation vehemently and begged the court not to separate them, saying “I still love my wife’’.
When the matter which
was slated for judgment came up on Tuesday, Emeka’s lawyer, Mr Abdul
Labi-Lawal informed the court that his client had filed a stay of
proceedings before a High Court in Lagos.
The application marked
FCMP/20054/16 had Emma and the Customary Court President, Mr Awos
Awosola as the first and second defendants respectively. The application
sought the High Court’s declaration that the Lagos Island Customary
Court lacked requisite jurisdiction to entertain and determine the Ike’s
divorce suit. The application noted that the marriage between the
estranged couple was conducted in Enugu State under the Igbo customs and
traditions.
Emeka also urged the
High Court to declare that all the proceedings already conducted by the
Customary Court in respect of couple’s marriage be rendered null and
void. The Nollywood actor also applied for a perpetual injunction
restraining the Customary Court’s President, Awosola, and any other
person appointed in the capacity of entertaining and or continuing the
proceedings in respect of the couple’s divorce suit. Labi-lawal,
therefore, urged the court to stay proceedings on the suit pending the
hearing and determination of the suit at the High Court.
Opposing the
application, Emma’s lawyer, Mr Iheanyi Awa urged the court to
discontinue the stay of application and deliver judgment. Awa, who said
Emeka’s application was aimed at arresting the court’s judgment,
informed the court that neither his client nor himself had been served
with the application. “It is an attempt to arrest the judgment of the
court, I am aware that the respondent wants to arrest the judgment which
is to be delivered today.
“The stay of proceedings
has been decided for a long time and court has ruled that it has
jurisdiction to entertain the matter. “It is a ploy to frustrate my
client, they just want to delay the judgment till another day. “The
court should give its judgment and if they are not satisfied, they can
appeal,” he said. After listening to the submissions of both parties,
the court said; “In view of the submission of the respondent, the stay
of proceedings is hereby granted, and the matter is hereby adjourned
sine die.’’
Vanguard reportage