Two men fight over child’s paternity in Ibadan
Ile Tuntun Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, listened to the suit on child’s paternity brought before it by Taofik Azeez against Ramota Ibrahim and Taiwo Adepoju.
Taofik stated before the court that Ramota, who was his former girlfriend and who she impregnated while they were still dating, called it quits with their relationship, got married to another man and gave the paternity of his child to her husband.
He, therefore, appealed to the court to intervene so that he could get his child back.
“I met Ramota in 2010. She was selling recharge cards and I used to patronise her. We got talking and she told me of her past. She told me she had a child from a previous relationship, but that the father of the child refused ownership of the pregnancy.
“We started dating and slept together about four times. Deep into the relationship, she told me she was pregnant. I told her I had two wives, but was ready to marry her as the third wife. She told me she was not ready to be a third wife and called it quits.
“She disappeared into thin air; I didn’t know where she was staying while she also changed her phone number.
“She called me few months after that she had put to bed a baby boy. I asked her when she had the baby and the date she gave was seven months after she walked out of our relationship. I asked her if the baby was born premature and she answered ‘no’.
“She called again three days later to ask why I was delaying in seeing her and the baby especially that the naming ceremony was near. I told her I was out of town and promised to see her after the naming ceremony.
“I traced the address she gave me when I came back and located her. I asked who the father of the child was and she told me she was not sure. I asked her why she gave the baby my name (Taofik), but she didn’t give any reasonable answer.
“She later called me that the child was sick and I took him to the hospital and paid the medical bills. I explained the issue of the child’s paternity to the doctor who carried out a blood test on the three of us. The result of the test confirmed the baby is mine. This is the photocopy of the result (he presented it to the court president), Taofik stated.
“We started dating again and she invited me to her sister’s wedding at Osogbo. I went with my friends. She introduced me to her family members and I stayed back to iron out the issue of the child’s paternity with them. I told them my mission and I was asked to stay in a room while she was called.
They asked her about me and she lied that we met two weeks ago. They also asked her about the paternity of the baby and she told them she wasn’t sure and left their midst with the baby in anger. I have not been able to reach since then.
“When she learnt I have come to court she came to my shop to appeal to me to have the matter settled outside court and I told her it was rather late, “he stated.
Ramota’s former husband, Tiwo Adepoju giving his evidence stated that he met Ramota in 2007 and they became friends. According to him, the first time she visited him, he made an attempt at making love to her, but she refused and said she just made love with her lover before coming.
“She later told me she was pregnant, but that her lover denied responsibility of the child.
“I took her like my younger sister and stood by her throughout the time she was pregnant. I supported her materially, financially and spiritual. I went as far as fasting on her behalf when she was about to put to bed and she delivered safely.
“I felt encouraged to do all these because my wife who had a delay in child bearing got pregnant the moment I started rendering help to Ramota.
“After she had put to bed, I made it known to her that we could no longer have an affair because she was now like a sister to me. She wept. People counseled me to marry her which I later did, Taiwo told the court.
“I rented an apartment for her after which my family members met with hers and we had a traditional wedding in 2010.
“She bore a male child that year and we held the naming ceremony in my home. We had a misunderstanding in 2013 and she moved out of the apartment I rented for her.
‘She called me after a while that our child was sick and that I should come for him which I did. I took him to my mother and we both took him to the hospital for medical attention.
“She came for the child two weeks after and brought him back again after a month. When I saw that the issue of the child was causing argument between my first wife and I, I told her to leave him with my mum.
“I work in Lagos and return at weekends. I was surprised when my mum called me at work that I had been served a court summon to appear in court on the issue of my son’s paternity.
“I called and told Ramota, but she insisted the child is mine. I told her the issue is a delicate one and pleaded with her to think well and tell the court the true father of the child in order for peace to reign.
Ramota denied all that Taofik had said and insisted Taiwo is the father of his son.
“Taofik is a liar and not straightforward and these had always led to disagreement between us.
“We dated for a year and made love only twice before we parted ways.
“I met Taiwo after this and we got married. By the time we got married I was already two months pregnant. In fact, I was spitting and was throwing during our traditional wedding due to the discomfort I usually have in the early months of pregnancy.
“I put to bed seven months later and received a call from him congratulating me. He came to my shop a year after requesting that we start dating again and I refused. I later learnt he was peddling lies that he was the father of my child, Ramota told the court.
Giving her evidence, Taiwo’s mother, Mrs Sukurat Adeoye stated in court that she cautioned her son from the outset of his relationship with Ramota that she didn’t appear to be a decent woman.
“When my son introduced Ramota to me, I was convinced deep inside me he had got it wrong. I warned him, but he refused to listen to me.
“He came back to inform me she was pregnant and he rented an apartment for her. They later had a traditional wedding.
“I took care of Ramota till she put to bed while my son was responsible for the child’s naming ceremony.
“Her landlord later told me she was always hosting different men in her room.
“She and my son had a misunderstanding and she packed out of her place. Since then we’ve heard nothing about her until my son told me someone had been calling him and disturbing him that the child was his.
“I later received a court summon on behalf of my son asking him to appear in court on the issue of paternity of his son.
Ramota’s mother was absent in court.
The court president, Chief Agbaje Olasunkanmi, stated that the presence of Ramota’s mother would be needed for more evidence.
He, therefore, adjourned the case till May 26 for hearing.