
*Rejects N.25m monthly upkeep

A former Vice-President, Abubakar Atikuโs son, Aminu, on Thursday took the battle of his childrenโs custody against his ex-wife, Fatima Bolori, to an Igbosere High Court in Lagos.
Aminu asked the court to upturn a magistratesโ courtโs decision which awarded the custody of his two children to Fatima, as well as a N250,000 monthly upkeep.

Theย ย News Agency of Nigeriaย reports that on January 10, Magistrate Kikelomo Ayeye sitting at Tinubu on Lagos Island awarded full custody of the ex-coupleโs daughter, Ameera, 11, and son, Aamir, 7, to Fatima.
The lower court held that Aminu failed to file a response to Fatimaโs application for the childrenโs custody.
But Aminu, through his counsel, Oyinkan Badejo, filed an application to the high court seeking leave to appeal the lower courtโs judgment and another application for a stay of further execution of its terms.
The first application, a motion on notice, was brought pursuant to Section 70 of the Magistratesโ Court Law, 2009 and supported by a 16-paragraph application.
Badejo said, โIn response to whether the applicant has shown sufficient grounds for the grant of the application, there is not more sufficient ground than the partyโs right to fair hearing.
โWe arrived at the magistratesโ court at 12.30 p.m., believing the matter was for mention at 1.00 p.m.โ
She contended that the lower court erred by hearing and granting Fatimaโs application for custody on a date the suit was fixed for mention.
On the second application, Badejo urged the court to vary the conditions attached to the custody order.
Badejo said according to the lower courtโs order, Aminu would pay his ex-wife N250,000 monthly for the upkeep of the children, beginning from January.
She also said that Magistrate Ayeye ordered Aminu to carry out medical insurance on each child, among others.
But Badejo said, โWe are not seeking a stay of the execution of the judgment but some of the terms were onerous.
โWe were asked to pay N250,000 for the upkeep of two young children and medical allowances. We find that rather onerous.โ
Fatimaโs counsel, Mr. O. N. Olabisi and Mr. Ethel Okoh, opposed Badejo.
But in a bench ruling, Justice Alogba granted Aminu leave to appeal the lower courtโs judgment.
Further hearing was adjourned until May 17 and June 14.
(NAN)
Be the first to comment