The dissolution of marriage
between Christ Embassy Church founder, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and his wife
Reverend Anita Oyakhilome with suit no FD14D01650 filled in the Divorce Section
A of Central Family Court, First Avenue House, High Holborn, London United
Kingdom a process initiated by the wife Rev. Anita to bring an end to their marriage of over two
decades. The marriage is blessed with two teenage daughters Sharon and Charlene.
The grounds relied on by the petitioner among other things include Adultery and
unreasonable behaviour.
It was gathered that the couple
pastors got married several years in Nigeria under Act.
The question now is can Anita file divorce in any country other than
Nigeria since the marriage was contracted in Nigeria?
The matrimonial Causes Act is the
same world over as long as the marriage is conducted in licensed places i.e.
licensed place of worship, registrar’s office. Section 81 of the Matrimonial Causes Act provides the recognition
of other decrees,that is Nigeria recognises foreign marriages and others for
the purpose of dissolution.
What are the conditions to be met before Rev. Anita’s matter can be
entertained?
The petitioner must prove that
the marriage contracted in Nigeria was a monogamous marriage, the Act has been
breached.
What does it mean for an Act to be breached?
The petitioner must prove that
the grounds for which a petition for dissolution of marriage can be brought has
been violated, adultery is one of the grounds for dissolution of marriage and
this is one of the grounds relied on by Anita.
What is Decree Nissi?
The decree nissi was served on the pastor in his hotel room during his
visit to the United Kingdom recently. Decree Nissi is an order of the court of
law stating the date on which a marriage will end unless a good reason not to
end the marriage is produced.
What are the steps to be taken by pastor Chris ?
Where a decree nissi has been
duly served it is then the right of the respondent to appear before the court
through his legal practitioner to either give reasons why the marriage should
not be dissolved. Failure of the other party to enter and show why the marriage
should not be dissolve will lead the court entering a decree absolute which is a legal document that ends a marriage.
Can we rightly say that Chris and Anita are divorced?
They are still legally married
until a decree absolute is entered.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
Oyenike Alliyu-Adebiyi LLB(hons)BL
I pray that Pastor Chris Oyakhilome finds a good reason why the marriage should not be dissolved.Despite d fact that he is a man of God,he is also a human and I pray he gets a second chance.
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