By Henry Ojelu
A Lagos high court judge, Justice Elfreda Dawodu-Williams, yesterday gave directives to Lagos lawyer Festus Keyamo on procedure to have access his children following his wife’s complaints that he has not been following the court earlier order on how and when he could see his children.
It will be recalled that Festus Keyamo filed a divorce suit at the Ikeja high court to dissolve his 5 years old marriage with Irene on the simple ground that he could no longer put up with the union. The court while considering the preliminary issues in the matter gave custody of his two children to his wife but ordered that he could have access to them for two day every fortnight.
The court while making that order also tasked Keyamo and Irene to work together in enrolling the two children in school.
Although the substantive divorce matter is yet to commence, Keyamo and his wife are at loggerheads on the logistics of having access to their children.
At yesterday’s trial, Keyamo’s lawyer, Gloria Oghajaguan, told the court that both couple had a conference on Monday, January 25th, 2010 but were still not able to reach an agreement on how Keyamo could pick up the children to stay with him for two days as directed by the court in its earlier ruling.
She stated that despite the court order mandating Keyamo to have access to his children for two days every fortnight, Irene has refused to allow him see the children.
She noted that Keyamo has directed his driver to always pick up the children from his embattled wife, but that she has refused to release them to see their father.
The position of Keyamo’s lawyer was vehemently opposed by the director of the office of Public Defender, Mrs Omotola Rotimi, who is also counsel to Irene, as she insisted that Keyamo should have made out time to pick up his children instead of sending his driver to pick them.
Mrs Omotola’s submission resulted in war of words as Keyamo’s lawyer joined issues with her on why it does not matter how Keyamo chooses to pick up his children from his wife.
A short conference was immediately ordered by the court for both parties but when they all returned to the courtroom still not being able to amicably resolve the issue, the Judge gave a definite directive on how Keyamo should pick up his children from his wife.
She ordered that Keyamo can send his driver to pick up the children but in the company of a relative or a lawyer in his office, who must be well known by his wife. She also ordered that Irene could take the children to Keyamo in company of a social worker to ensure that the children are properly handed over to him.
Trial in the substantive divorce suit has been adjourned till 16 March.
segun oduye
28 January 2010 19:47This game is not necessary.He wants out of the marriage,and she has no objections,the Judge should make it happen in good time so that this drama will end.There are more pressing cases to be attended to.
irabor samuel
28 January 2010 21:24live the kids for her.they cant change their DNA.they will ask of their father in a way she will regret having custudy of them.we are in africa.you have the backing of your accesstors.thanks
WeyDem
29 January 2010 02:28This is just rubbish, conference, pick-up children and stay for two-days? What kind of society are we trying to bring in this Lagos? We have gone to the westrn world to pick this issue of divorce, a woman will have the right to capture all children in the marraige and ask the man to come look through pigeon hole to see his children. No way, a man is a man, if any woman want to go, let he just pick her box and leave my house, she has brought the children for me and that’s it kawai.
sirtee
29 January 2010 10:52so as successful as keyamo is in the law profession he is too is a failure too maritally. this now support the widely world acclaimed survey/ saying that, if you are successful in life but fail in marriage, you are a total failure. i urge keyamo to mend his own fence, knowing fully that there is no home whose roof is not leaking, it depends.
Spora
29 January 2010 16:51Big Mouth Keyamo!
He could not manage a family of 4 yet he will be criticising how a president or a governor could not manage a nation well.
Stupid Pharisee!
OLUKUNLE KUYE
29 January 2010 18:02Keyamo o Keyamo, what are you turning your life and that of these children into? Just reconcile and give yourself peace. Many Nigerians love you, but the way things are going, perception about your person will soon be negative. Irene has by your action drawn the sympathy of many.
Must your Children be in company of social workers in your life time? Do you know the consequence of that even in Overseas where that is practiced. Please reconcile and let Irene bear another Bomboy for you papa oyoyo. LOVE YOU AND BEST REGARDS, BUT DO HEED MY WARNING. Your brother and friend.
Abololokikagiwami
29 January 2010 23:03Etu Festus Keyamo, Marriage nor easy oh!
AJIBOLA ARIES
30 January 2010 06:54Very very sad to see my highly admired Festus Keyamo having a troubled and apparently collapsing marriage. This is really scaring to those of us who are still bachelors. It is so alarming that so many marriages are no longer working these days.
kelechi nwagbaraocha
1 February 2010 11:46MY BROTHER,
MY DEAR BROTHER AND FRIEND. DONT MIND HYPOCRITES. YOU HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG AT ALL.
I ADMIRE YOU COURAGE AS USUAL IN FACING CIRCUMSTANCES. THERE IS NO POINT MANAGING A DEAD MARRIAGE.
TIDY UP THE DIVORCE PROCESSES AND MOVE A HAPPY MAN. A LIVING DOG IS BETTER THAN A DEAD LION.
GONE ARE THE DAYS PEOPLE LEAVE TO PLEASE THE SOCIETY TO THEIR PERSONAL COMFORT.
CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR WELLFARE AND UP KEEP THE KIDS WILL RETURN AT THE RIGHT TIME.
O. Gbenga
1 February 2010 14:17hhhmmmmmmmmmmmmm
lucas Olarenwaju
1 February 2010 15:23keyamo. dont bother yourself.
if the woman even wants to singlehandedly train the children please allow her.
i hope you have females amongst them. their future suitors will definitely ask of the father before anything happens. afterall, there is a popular igbo adage which says: ‘at the right time, the world will ask you who is the father and not who is the trainer’
ride on keyamo
unleashedbaba
1 February 2010 17:02I wanted to simply send u Keyamo a blank page- which shows that one desires to unsubscribe from a service- to tell him that I completely detest his modus vivendi. It doesnt stop at being a succesful Lawyer, one also needs to be a good man. No good man can divorce a lady he wooed to the altar. Keyamo needs to repent. He needs Jesus.Period.
Ojo Oladimeji
1 February 2010 17:47This is very sad. i expect Keyamo to have known more than this by way of African tradition in marriage. Even if he remarried today, i don’t expect him to sbject the care of the little children to the hand of a step mother whom he cannot predict how she is going to handle them. Keyamo should tread softly. He should know that he is a public figure whom nigerian are looking to for the change we need in this poluted society. If the woman denied him access to the kids now, he should lelax. All he need to do is to ensure that their education do not sufer.
At the appropriate time, the children will locate their father.
Innocent Aliagha
1 February 2010 17:55If Keyamo truly wants to be with those children, he should make out time to go and pick them. The idea of sending unaccompanied drivers to pick children in these days of kidnapping is dangerous.
john ufot
1 February 2010 17:57Dear Keyamo, please kindly retrace your steps and return to your family. You can already see it that the trouble in this dirvorce matter is not worth sacrificing your peace, that of your children and wife for. Don’t allow satan room to maniplate you out of your immediate family. Let the Almighty God guide you in this matter. I wish and your wife well in Jesus name.
Alor Otakagwu
2 February 2010 16:49Festus, please for the sake of your children, try to reconcile with Irene. No woman is good, you just have to manage and tolerate them. If you doubt me, remarry and you will still find that the second woman is not good. Although some women are far better than others, because my wife has stuck to me even without money for many years. This is not to say we never quarrelled but it never degenerated to big fracas. Please learn to stay together, after you swore to uphold the oath of marriage.
Alor Otakagwu
2 February 2010 16:50Festus, please for the sake of your children, try to reconcile with Irene. No woman is good, you just have to manage and tolerate them. If you doubt me, remarry and you will still find that the second woman is not good. Although some women are far better than others, because my wife has stuck to me even without money for many years. This is not to say we never quarrelled but it never degenerated to big fracas. Please learn to stay together, afterall you swore to uphold the oath of marriage.
Kunle
2 February 2010 16:52Keyamo has always been a controversial person, what i dont know is that he still extend the controversy to his household. God help him
BOBO BROWN
2 February 2010 17:54My dear brother Keyamo festus,
please for the sake of your children future for the sake of our dear country Nigeria, reconcile with your wife in the original Africa way.
Abe na arrangy marriage una do. Your wife no get family wey go fit talk to her?. Even sef wetin your own family dey do about this matter.
Abeg you and your wife to leave this ona oyinbo manner of settling dispute and follow our African way and method or better still the Christian / Biblical approach
Make ona take am easy oh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ola Olu
3 February 2010 08:22Shame on you Festus.
ode
3 February 2010 17:05BOTH SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES! TWO IMPRESSIONABLE MINDS TOSSED FROM ONE PARENT TO ANOTHER EVERY 14 DAYS! AMAZINGLY SAD!!
Tunde Rabiu
3 February 2010 18:32Keyamo is a womanizer, i know many of his small-small girl friends. he likes fuck too much. yeye man
Bobo Brown
3 February 2010 18:33My dear beloved brother Festus Keyamo, i will advice you and your wife to put aside this oyinbo way of settling querrels or disput between couple and take to our Africa culture of settling matters. Abi na arrangy marriage you and your wife do. Two of una ona no get Family wey go fit settle ona matter for ona. See make you amd your wife no allow ona children to become another Abdul de bomber with this una useless manner of court settlement and two days seeing of your children.
Na beg i de beg una now oh—————————
alex
4 February 2010 16:52Spora, mind how u comment cos it may be u tomorrow. My good friend Keyamo is not the only prominient man such is on his way. What about Nelson Madela, Obasanjo and others. when women know that u are figure in the public they will choose to rubish u than heed to Biblical advise. May good help our women from this their foreign emulation that is contracting the Bible preciples.
Joseph
4 February 2010 17:50This is public disgrace.Leave the children for her,but she must not come for financial assistant.Mind you the chilren will surely ask of their father when they grow up.Face your business visit the children once in a month
Favour Johnson
4 February 2010 17:52Please try and settle with your wife, because of the future of your children. And, you will have peace. Thanks.
Chichinese
4 February 2010 18:23This man filed for divorce and the woman is ready to give him what he wants. But every freedom has a prise doesnt it? the Oga himself is too busy to pick us his children whom he could only see for two 2days every fourthnight yet he’s not excited to go pick them up himself. HE certainly is tooo busy. Lol!
Raji Mutair
5 February 2010 17:52Its unbelievable, that Keyamo failed in managing a family of four(4). This guy should just keep quite when Nigeria is in discuss!
KEN ANORUO
5 February 2010 20:09It so bad that people could just jump into conclusions on issues they know litle or nothing about. Are people now suggesting that because one has a reputation then he keeps quiet and swallows unbearable behaviours of these modern women. For crying out loud, Keyamo is a legal practioner to the core and should not be expected to endure any form of unrully behaviour from a wife he married with his own money. I think his steps are in the right direction.
opimoko
6 February 2010 10:38Festus what is happening? So you cannot manage your family? Then never you criticise any person in government as you have shown you cannot manage your ward not to talk of your Local Government. Please the national assembly must enact a law that any person who has a failed marriage should not hold any public post whether elected or appointed. Enough of this rubbish
Toyin A
8 February 2010 14:44Please , dear brother , settle with your wife. There is no perfect human beings. If you marry another person, that one might be worse in future. Remember what attracted you to her in the first place, try to rekindle that old fire. I pray God will help you and make your marriage to be what he ( God) want it to be.
Chigozie Cece
9 February 2010 11:40@Ajibola
Just to encourage you that marriage still works bro. Don’t be afraid because your highly esteemed lawyer is failing in his. Mine is WORKING big time, and we’re not just managing. We are enjoying it because we( my wife and i) choose from day one to lay our pride aside and work towards building a home where everybody will always want to run back to. As a bachelor don’t forget the foundation is love and common focus, if you get someone you both share the two pillars, go ahead and make it happen!
riike tia
9 February 2010 19:52u don c say eno easy.u go dey complain about all govt say dem no dey work but you too cant manage a home.ofcourse a man is not only about gender but a man is someone who can manage all crises in d home front.
can u now c dat u sef fit fumble if u sit at d helms of affairs of a public office.
celestine obilor
10 February 2010 17:07sometimes it depends on the foundation of the marriage at the beggining.I am only intrested in praying for the embartled couples.May the almighty Father reunite them-yes its possible.Thanks.
ewrieru
12 February 2010 (5 weeks ago) 15:22werkwerjkwejrwkejrwerwer
Gloreoritet
joe
12 February 2010 (5 weeks ago) 17:17Hello Festus,
Marriage is not a law profession. Its easy to critize Ribadu, OBJ (although OBJ too is a failure in the home front) etc, but see how you failed at home. The truth is that what has happened will confront you headon in the future as our country is becoming a develop nation.
But you know what?. I have a solution to ur problem. what u need is the WORD SEMINAR.
anthony lives
13 February 2010 (5 weeks ago) 14:43keyamo is african.he just wants multiple women in his life.i like him for being frank hahhah..no real reason just that keyamo is tired of answering questions about why he came home at 3 am or where he slept the night before….zuma is a president…he is worse than keyamo,yet admired….keyamo is a good boy…he is not american or european….what of our own OBJ?have we killed him?
let the woman take care of the kigs joo…thats a womans job…keyamo should busy himself with making more love children…
he has the means,he is handsome,the girls love him,he loves them more…whats life all about?
Soji Faj
15 February 2010 (4 weeks ago) 15:18If one cannot live with a woman the best is to make necessary arrangments without going to court for the children welfare and upbringing. Festus should not be brash about this at all. This action between him and his wife at this young age can cause untold psychological damage to these children. I am talking from experience.
N T Adebagbo
16 February 2010 (4 weeks ago) 16:33am speechless.i urge the couples to resolve their issues.at d end of the day,there might be no issue at all to resolve.dey shld remember their sacred vows.
CHINEME
16 February 2010 (4 weeks ago) 21:24Keyamo is not the only inside this fire called marriage. I’m one. My own ex-wife had custody of our only daughter through court order. Irronically I paid for her school fees, school transportation cost and medical bills but could not be allowed 1 hour access to the girl. Every provision and wears procured by me were rejected by the mother. The same court that gave custody order to the mother could not protect my own interest. So Keyamo my brother, have your peace with consolations that your children know that they have a father and will definitely look for you when they are matured enough.
Tuduo Oweibo
17 February 2010 (4 weeks ago) 17:43This is sad. Keyamo, just swallow your pride and go and mend fences with your wife. You cant show how powerful you are to wife you know. She will always bring you down as she has done. Sensible men will not do what you are doing. Just take my advise. There are easier ways of dealing with women. Not this frontal approach, she will always beat you to it.
Steve Bratt
17 February 2010 (4 weeks ago) 18:05Keyamo, I use to look up to u as a role model. You’re such a disappointment to make ur family affair a public one. Pls get ur act together.
dollarman ( spain )
18 February 2010 (4 weeks ago) 00:06I can tell you that if you manage your home well, it will be good for you. No matta where you are. am living in europe for 8 years now and marry an european woman that i senior with 10years, but we have not quareal for one day we knew each other too well, i know some time people have their differences but it will not go too far, PLS fastus, Its you who will make the marriage work, my bros, just take it easy with her. and remember that kids is at the center of this whole issue and its not good for them.
ogochukwu
18 February 2010 (4 weeks ago) 13:22keyamo, please swallow your ego and bring peace to your marriage and home, stop making your private live a public issue. believe me, it can never be as interesting as your profrssional career.
ogochukwu
18 February 2010 (4 weeks ago) 14:33keyamo, please swallow your ego and bring peace to your marriage and home, stop making your private live a public issue. believe me, it can never be as interesting as your professional career.
OTOM OSAI
19 February 2010 (4 weeks ago) 18:13MR.KEYAMO, U ARE A SHAME TO HUMAN RIGHTS STRUGGLE AND GOOD CONSCIENSE.SO YOU CANT RUN A FAMILY SUCCESSFULLY FOR MORE THAN 5YRS?AND U CALL YR SELF HUMANRIGHTS LAWYER?
WHAT DO U MEAN? IRRECONCILLABLE DIFFS.PLSE MY ADVISE IS TO GO BACK AND RECONCILE WITH YR DEAR WIFE.MOTHER OF YR ONLY CHILDREN.PLSE GO BACK,YR JEHOVAH BELIEFS IS NOT HELPING U EITHER.PLSE GO BACK TO THE CHRIST OF GOD,REPENT TRULLY AND SEEK PEACE WT HIM.THANKS.I LOVE YOU AND YR FAMILY.
MRS KEYAMO,PLSE CHANGE YR LIFESTYLE AND BUILD THE HOUSE TOGETHER,OR THE CHILDREN WILL SUFFER AND 4DIVE U BOTH.
PLSE HUMBLE YOURSELVES,EAT YR INDIVIDUAL PRIDE 4GOOD.
Kay
20 February 2010 (4 weeks ago) 16:27Olukunle Kuye and Spora the two of you are ignorant.
What makes you think that Festus Keyamo is not good enough to know when the marriage life is going the wrong direction without a turning point?
Why should he allow himself to be used, abused and dumped by a no good marriage and you still think he should reconcile to have anothe bomboy? what a stupid talk.
Spora or what do you call your name?
who tells you that marriage is a yard stick of measurement for the management of nation or state affairs?
Keyamo is brilliant and good for our nation does that mean he is not human?
Does it mean that he should be suffreing in a marriage that is not good for him?
Please mind your words when you are commenting on issues like marriage. Festus and Irene needs our support not taking side.
Festus do what is good for you and the children. Irene do what is good for you and the children.
The children should be your focus and not material things.
Nigerians are watching you both.
Nigerians are wtaching you Festus and not that you are bad but they are watching you as we all watched Gani in his life time.
The Comrade
21 February 2010 (3 weeks ago) 20:50I must confess that Barrister Keyamo is the biggest failure of the century. Keyamo suppose to be a role model to many Nigerians who look up to him as a human right activist, but no the revise is the case. The only conditon i will succore to his divorce is if his wife was engaged in adultry.
I think he has seen new holes, so he wants to abandon his old hole. but he forget that the new bride would soon be old as well. The best thing to do is to cherish what u have in ur hands.
As for the lady, there is nothing out there that can be better than what u already have. All the men that will come after now are just out there to chop u and go. So start to retrace ur steps if the fault is from ur side. Thesame applies to keyamo.
D. Loui
22 February 2010 (3 weeks ago) 20:20Festus Keyamo is a total disgrace to himself and his proffession. He claims to be a human rights activist for the masses meanwhile he is incapable of upholding the rights of his wife who has borne children for him. He is always critisizing how Governors manage states and how political office holders manage their offices comprising of hundreds of people and yet he cannot manage a home of 4 individuals. He is a total story of a failure in life because with all his money, I am 100% sure he is not happy were ever he is. My advice to you Mr Keyamo is to go home and make peace with your wife in the best interest of your children and stop washing your family’s dirty linen in public over an unnecessary ego problem.
Kunle Shosanya ( SAKOS )
23 February 2010 (3 weeks ago) 13:39Festus Keyamo, You started by criticizing Gani Fawehinmi on African Independent Telivision ( AIT ) years back. You did the same to a lot of people. This is a big shame to you that you can not manage your family. You have desided to wash your dirty cloth outside. You pretend to be a saint but the world have come to know whom you are. More problems are waiting for you. Yeye man.
Peter olaluwoye
23 February 2010 (3 weeks ago) 13:48All that glitter is not necessarily golden. God bless the Keyamos and help solve their problems.