₦airaland Forum

Chickensoup:
If the wife leaves the husband, will she pay as well or it's only apply to men?

The law applies to both parties. However, in practice, men hardly claim spousal support from their wives.

StillDtruth:
All join

This applies to marriages contracted by the Marriage Act statutory marriage.

maxiuc:


I will create a topic on this and I want straightforward answers

My cousin bro got married to a woman that secret lured him into Court marriage and this is a girl that brought absolutely nothing it was my bro that trained her in university and ever since the court wedding this lady has been misbehaving and I got a clue from a closer friend of hers about her reasons for the court marriage and my cousin brother is very naive and stubborn type sometimes I used to tell him that no be to get money you get sense that's what he refuses to understand and he act to be on top the situation not knowing that the situation is on top him ,now the lady is kind of doing anything she wants to do kwatakwata if Dem divorce she will get a share from my cousin brother properties, she contributed absolutely nothing to the wealth of this my brother. now what does the Nigerian laws says about this should Incase divorce comes can she lay claim of any of my Brothers properties that she never contributed into and all this properties has been there before she came in as wife...

Sharing of properties after divorce is not automatic. You have to ask for it. The court in deciding who gets what applies the"fair and reasonable" formula. Do for the girl to succeed, she has to prove that she contributed to the acquisition of those properties. However, some courts have interpreted contribution to mean financial contribution, while other have taken cognizance of non financial contribution. Whichever way it goes, kindly note that statutory marriage is not an automatic ticket to having a share in a man's property. You must prove that you contributed to its acquisition

LawWithEbele:
“He’s Rich. She’s Struggling. But the Court Gave Her Full Custody, Here’s Why”

The Truth About How Nigerian Courts Decide Child Custody


Too many people think money wins child custody in Nigeria.

“She earns more.”
“He lives in a big house.”
“She has family abroad.”
“He can pay all the school fees.”

But that’s not how Nigerian courts work.

In the case of Nanna v. Nanna, the man was a doctor. He had policies, a new apartment, and money. The woman had none of that, but she had something he didn’t:

She was daily there for the kids.
Present in the kids’ lives.
Emotionally involved.
And the court saw it.

So they gave her full custody.

What does this mean for you?
If you're fighting for custody, the law looks beyond bank accounts. It asks:

Who truly nurtures the child?

Who has been present, not just powerful?

What living arrangement truly supports the best interest of the child?


Money can help, but it doesn’t win custody.

Do you want to know the real checklist Nigerian courts use to decide custody?

I broke it all down in a simple guide here:
www.elawfirm.ng/child-custody-in-Nigeria-how-courts-decide

I am Aroh-Nwoka Ebelechukwu, a family and property lawyer. I help you use the law to protect what matters most.

Have you or someone you know fought a custody battle in Nigeria? What did the court look at the most? Let’s talk.


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Don't fight the child custody battle blindly, learn the secret to success in child custody cases.

“He’s Rich. She’s Struggling. But the Court Gave Her Full Custody, Here’s Why”

The Truth About How Nigerian Courts Decide Child Custody


Too many people think money wins child custody in Nigeria.

“She earns more.”
“He lives in a big house.”
“She has family abroad.”
“He can pay all the school fees.”

But that’s not how Nigerian courts work.

In the case of Nanna v. Nanna, the man was a doctor. He had policies, a new apartment, and money. The woman had none of that, but she had something he didn’t:

She was daily there for the kids.
Present in the kids’ lives.
Emotionally involved.
And the court saw it.

So they gave her full custody.

What does this mean for you?
If you're fighting for custody, the law looks beyond bank accounts. It asks:

Who truly nurtures the child?

Who has been present, not just powerful?

What living arrangement truly supports the best interest of the child?


Money can help, but it doesn’t win custody.

Do you want to know the real checklist Nigerian courts use to decide custody?

I broke it all down in a simple guide here:
www.elawfirm.ng/child-custody-in-Nigeria-how-courts-decide

I am Aroh-Nwoka Ebelechukwu, a family and property lawyer. I help you use the law to protect what matters most.

Have you or someone you know fought a custody battle in Nigeria? What did the court look at the most? Let’s talk.


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Baronthecelebri:
What about baby mama

Spousal support is for once lawfully married but now divorced or separated spouse. A baby mama is out of this equation. The best baby manner could file for is child's support. This is were it has been established that the man is the actual father of the child.

"He Left Me, So He Must Pay spousal support!" Read This Before You Go to Court.

Maintenance (spousal support) is money the court may order one spouse to pay the other after separation or divorce. It helps the spouse who needs financial support.

Too many people, men and women alike, think that once you ask, the court will just award maintenance.

They believe it’s automatic.
They assume it favours women.
They assume it’s about who cried the most or looked more pitiful in court.

They are wrong.

Under Section 70(1) of the Matrimonial Causes Act, the court is required to consider:

Your income and the income of your spouse

Your conduct and that of your spouse

Your ability to earn and every other relevant circumstance must be considered by court before deciding whether you are deserving of spousal support and the amount to be paid.

Maintenance or spousal support is not emotional compensation. It’s a legal decision based on facts and fairness.

So before you walk into court saying:
“He must take care of me!”
“She must pay spousal support!”

Ask yourself:

Can you prove their earning power and means?

Can you show your own need?

Are your hands clean?

Imagine claiming for your spouse to pay you the sum of two hundred thousand as spousal maintenance per month. To be successful you have to led credible evidence to establish the means, earning capacity, conducts and other circumstances like inflation, the standard of living before things fell apart to the satisfaction of the court.

Why? Because maintenance/spousal support is not a favour. It’s not gender-sensitive.It’s not automatic.

It is measured justice based on means, earning capacity, conduct, and other relevant evidence.

Meanwhile, spousal support is for those that contracted statutory marriage.

Friends, ignorance is expensive. But wisdom? That one pays.

So, do you think Nigerian courts should set clear limits on how long maintenance should last, or should it depend on each case? Let’s hear your thoughts

I am Ebelechukwu Aroh-Nwoka, your family and property lawyer.

Justice Served: What We Must Learn from Osinachi’s Tragic Story

Today, Justice Nwosu-Iheme of the FCT High Court, Abuja, sentenced Peter Nwachukwu, husband of late gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu, to death by hanging for culpable homicide.

This judgment is more than just a headline.

It reminds us that abuse is not a family matter; it is a crime against humanity.

For years, Osinachi inspired millions with her songs.
Yet behind the beautiful voice was a broken woman , battered by the very man who vowed to protect her.

Her death in 2022 shook the nation.
Today, her case teaches us bitter truths:

Marriage is not a prison.

Endurance is not a virtue when it costs your life.

Silence empowers abusers.

Domestic violence is no longer "a private issue", it’s now a crime under Nigerian law.

The VAPP Act is active. Ignorance is no longer an excuse.


To anyone suffering abuse: Your life is precious.
There’s no prize for suffering in silence.
There’s no shame in walking away to live.

To society: We must stop telling victims to “pray harder” or “endure for the sake of the children.”
Religion and culture should never be weaponized against survival.

Today’s judgment is justice for Osinachi.
But it must also be a warning: Life is more important than saving face.

Rest well, Osinachi.
Your pain was not in vain.
Your story will save others.

Now over to you:

If you were Osinachi’s sister, daughter, or best friend, what would you have wanted her to do differently?

Speak your mind. Your comment might save a life today.

Mindlog:
That should be thoroughly explored and talked about when dating, which Church do they both want to attend as a married couple.

Exactly. Such issues ought to have been settled before now.

TUANKU:
Cohabitation is just a prolonged hook-up. Hook-up XXL.

Perfectly said! 💯

After cohabiting with a woman for 30 years, a man assumed that their decades of living together and raising children, despite never paying bride price, automatically amounted to a customary marriage.

So, when he decided it was time to move on, he accused the woman of denying him sex and asked the court to dissolve the “marriage.” But the court was quick to point out that there was no customary marriage to dissolve.

Cohabitation, no matter how long, without more, does not amount to marriage.

That was the end of the road for both parties—to your tent, O Israel.

Sadly, many women are in the same situation. They move in with men, have children, run homes, and live as wives—without any formal marriage ceremony, bride price, or legal recognition. It may feel like marriage, it may look like marriage, but legally, it is not marriage.

Imagine doing everything a wife does—cooking, cleaning, childbearing—without enjoying any of the legal protections or privileges of a lawful spouse. That’s the harsh reality that awaits anyone on that path.

Ladies, let’s do better.

I am Aroh-Nwoka Ebelechukwu, your family and property lawyer.

#arohnwokaebelechukwu #ebelechukwulawfirm #FamilyLawyerNearMe #familylawyer #Cohabitation #NigerianLaw

Question for the house: Do you think our laws should recognize long-term cohabitation as marriage, especially where children are involved?

Vanguard, 7th April edition, reported how a wedding was called off because the bride allegedly refused to follow the groom to his church. Both were Christians but of different denominations.

This is a sober reminder of the need to address certain issues before saying “I do.”
Don’t assume all is well just because you’re in love. Infatuation fades, but the issues you ignore today may become the cracks in your marriage tomorrow.

Ask the hard questions:

What church will we both attend?

How will we handle finances, joint account or separate?

How involved will in-laws be in our decisions?

What’s our stance on parenting and discipline?

Are we on the same page about roles and expectations in marriage?

Most divorce cases don’t start with big fights. They begin with these “little foxes” that go unchecked and gradually eat away at the foundation.

So what’s your take, must a woman follow her husband to his church? Or should they both find a common ground?

What other important matters do you think couples should settle before tying the knot?

Let’s talk. You just might help someone avoid a broken engagement or a broken home.

Kobojunkie:
Doesn't your writeup insist that there are a total of 8 possible grounds for divorce? Nigerian divorce laws definitely have a long way to go.

Thanks for your contribution. In statutory marriages, we have only one ground for divorce - that the marriage has broken down irretrievably. However, there are eight ways through which you can prove that a marriage has broken down irretrievably. Adultery and intolerability are some of the ways you show the court that the marriage has broken down irretrievably.

I have written a blog article on the grounds for divorce. For more insight on this, kindly click on the link below

https://www.elawfirm.ng/grounds-for-divorce-in-statutory-marriages-in-nigeria/

muyico:
Sharia law or constitution law?? States also gat his own constitution
Or church doctrine?

This is for statutory marriages or marriage contracted in accordance with the provisions of the Marriage Act

Wow, over 70 views already! Thanks to everyone reading. Do you think adultery should always lead to divorce in Nigeria? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Last month, a woman came to my office heartbroken. Her husband had packed out of their matrimonial home and moved in with another woman. When she mentioned divorce, he told her, “Go ahead. Adultery is not a crime.”

That’s where many people get confused.

Yes, adultery is one of the legal grounds for divorce in Nigeria, but the court will not grant a divorce simply because adultery happened. You must also prove that living together has become intolerable as a result of the adultery. Also, you must join the person your spouse cheated with as a party to the divorce petition.

So, it’s not automatic. You can’t just file for divorce because your spouse cheated especially if your marriage is a statutory marriage. Nigerian law requires more, and many people don’t know this.

I broke it down fully in this article:
[Read: Adultery and Divorce in Nigeria https://www.elawfirm.ng/adultery-and-divorce-in-nigeria/]


If you or someone you know is considering divorce on the grounds of adultery, please understand your legal rights and steps before taking action.

What’s your view? Should adultery alone be enough reason for divorce in Nigeria? Let’s discuss.