A woman identified as Anike has asked a Grade A Customary Court sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, to compel her former husband, Karounwi, to release a vehicle she claimed she solely purchased and registered during their marriage.
Anike told the court that in 2019, while their marriage was still intact, she informed her then husband of her intention to buy a car to support her business.
She said Karounwi later introduced her to a vehicle allegedly being sold by one of his clients.
The plaintiff claimed she handed over N300,000 to her ex-husband for the purchase and registration of the car in her name, adding that she used the vehicle until she fell ill in 2021.
She alleged that revelations later linked her health condition to her former husband, forcing her to leave their home.
According to her, when she returned after recovering to pack her belongings, the vehicle was nowhere to be found.
She said all the car documents were left behind when she fled the house, and efforts to retrieve the vehicle since their divorce had proved futile.
Besides seeking the release of the car, Anike also asked the court to grant her custody of their youngest child, who she said had remained with the defendant since she left home.
She further demanded N100,000 monthly from Karounwi to cover feeding, medical care and accommodation for herself and the child.
The plaintiff also urged the court to restrain her former husband from contacting or harassing her, either personally or through third parties, and from threatening her life or damaging her reputation.
She additionally requested N100,000 as litigation cost.
Responding, Karounwi disputed most of the claims, insisting that the car was jointly owned.
He told the court that Anike only provided N200,000 as an initial deposit, while he completed the balance and registered the vehicle in his name.
He added that both of them used the car for business while the marriage lasted.
On the issue of child custody, the defendant said he did not oppose Anike having custody of their youngest child, noting that the boy often ran away whenever he was disciplined.
However, he said he could not afford the N100,000 monthly upkeep being demanded.
In her ruling, the court president, Mrs O.E. Owoseni, held that Anike failed to prove sole ownership of the vehicle, having not produced purchase receipts or registration documents.
She consequently declared both parties joint owners of the car, based on the defendant’s admission and lack of contrary evidence.
Owoseni ordered that since the couple were no longer married and could not jointly use the vehicle, it should be sold and the proceeds shared between them.
The court also ruled that the youngest child should remain with his siblings for family bonding, noting the defendant’s responsibility in catering for the other children currently in higher institutions.