My wife denying me access to children, UI lecturer tells court

A lecturer,Prof. Sikiru Babarinde has informed a Grade A Customary Court in Ibadan that her wife, Dr Bilikis Babarinde was denying him access to his children.

Babarinde, who informed the court on Thursday through his counsel, Mr Yusuf Anikulapo, said that Balikis has continued to deny his client access to his children.

It would be recalled that Balikis, who is the plaintiff in the matter is seeking for the dissolution of her 20-year-old marriage that had produced three children with Babarinde over alleged maltreatment.

Anikulapo said that the plaintiff counsel was not eager to have the matter heard acceleratedly and was foot dragging it.

The counsel to the plaintiff, Mr Funmiso Idowu, objected to the allegation of not allowing the respondent to see his children, adding that the respondent knew where to find his children.

Idowu further said that the respondent knew the children’s school and could visit them there anytime he wishes but choose not to see them.

The counsel, however, informed the court that the business of the day was to hear the application of stay of proceedings filed by the respondent.

Idowu informed the court that he just took over the matter from the previous counsel handling it and has just been given all the processes in the matter.

He said that the case could not go on because he needed to respond to the application of stay of proceedings filed by the respondent’s counsel and requested for an adjournment.

The President of the court, Mrs R. Gbadamosi, said that she was not in support of the plaintiff denying the respondent access to the children and was eager for accelerated hearing of the matter.

Gbadamosi awarded a cost of N10,000 against the plaintiff for delaying the matter and adjourned the case until July 18 for definite hearing in the interest of fair hearing.