Ogun court dissolves 117 marriages

(Nigeria) The Abeokuta Grade I  Customary Court sitting at  Ake, Ogun State,  dissolved 117 marriages in 2013.

The President of the court, Mr  Titus Oluwole,  told the News Agency of  Nigeria in Abeokuta on Tuesday  that the  2013 figure was, however,  lower than the 138  recorded in 2012.

He also said that the court was able to reconcile 148 couples within the period, compared with the 111 in 2012.

Oluwole attributed the decrease in cases to series of counseling sessions, mediation between families and sensitisation given to intending couples by religious groups before weddings.

 "Before the court dissolves a marriage, we send them home to enable their families to mediate. We dissolve marriages only when we are left with no choice and all efforts to reconcile couples prove abortive," he said.

He advised couples to  seek  sufficient knowledge  about their intended partners  and  demonstrate understanding of  each other well before marriage.

The president also said couples should  seek  God's guidance before  venturing into marriage.

"Most marriages crumble because of lack of understanding and not seeking God’s presence before getting married," Oluwole said.

He further advised parents to give adequate guidance and counseling to their wards,  saying that good training should be given to them at their tender age.