Ayodeji Obayan, a middle-aged Nigerian man, has taken legal action against his estranged wife, Lillian Obayan, after she unilaterally decided to change their children’s surnames without his consent.
The contentious matter came to light during a hearing before the Grade ‘A’ Customary Court in Oke-Eda, Akure, Ondo State.
Expressing his deep frustration and anger, Ayodeji Obayan is determined to establish his paternity over the four children and uphold his rights as their biological father.
The couple’s 23-year-long marriage has been marred by consistent crises and abuse, according to Ayodeji Obayan’s testimony before the court.
In 2019, Lillian decided to leave their marital home and move in with another man, exacerbating the already fragile relationship.
However, what stunned Ayodeji even more was Lillian’s subsequent decision to change not just her own name, but also the surnames of their children, to match the name of her new partner.
In his statement to the court, Ayodeji Obayan detailed his commitment to his role as a father and his distress over his estranged wife’s actions.
He cited his intention to seek legal redress to ensure that his rights as a father are preserved and respected. His core concern revolves around the unauthorized alteration of the children’s surnames, which not only affects his parental identity but also disrupts the children’s sense of belonging.
Lillian, in her defense, portrayed Ayodeji Obayan as an irresponsible husband who failed to fulfill his responsibilities towards their children. She highlighted that he had not paid her dowry and had neglected his financial duties towards their offspring.
In his wife's words;
“Obayan is not a good husband to me and a good father to his children, as he doesn’t pay their school fees nor care about how they are living.
“He didn’t pay my dowry. So, I finally found a man to marry. And my new love wants my children to bear his name instead of that of their irresponsible father.
“Our children are old enough to choose for themselves as they are no more kids. My first two girls, Mayomi and Damilola, are 22 and 20 years old, while the boys, Ariyo and Aduragbemi, are 18 and 16 years old respectively.”