A Customary Court sitting in Lokoja has struck out a divorce petition filed by Super Eagles goalkeeper Olorunleke Ojo against his wife, Tosin Ojo, ruling that it lacks the jurisdiction to hear the case.
Delivering her ruling on Tuesday, the presiding judge held that a Certified True Copy of the couple’s marriage certificate, tendered before the court, showed that Olorunleke and Tosin contracted a statutory marriage under the Marriage Act in 2016. On that basis, she held that only a higher court — not a Customary Court — has the competence to hear and determine the matter.
The judge advised Olorunleke to approach the appropriate court should he wish to pursue the dissolution of the marriage further, before formally striking out the suit.
Background
The ruling comes after several adjournments in the case and follows Olorunleke’s earlier withdrawal of a similar petition from the High Court in the same state. It remains to be seen whether the former Enyimba and Abia Warriors goalkeeper will now file afresh at a higher court, or whether he and his wife will pursue an out-of-court resolution instead.
Olorunleke and Tosin were married on 11 November 2016. The union has produced two sons.
The marriage first showed signs of strain in 2024, when Tosin publicly accused her husband of engaging in an extramarital affair with Precious Daniel. The couple have lived apart since, after efforts by both families to reconcile them failed to yield a resolution.
What Next
Attention now shifts to Olorunleke’s next move — whether he refiles at a court with the requisite jurisdiction, or whether the couple opt to settle the matter privately.
