In a video from 03:00. A marital dispute between Paul Chuwugboka and his wife, Amarachi, has taken a new turn after Paul approached the Justice Court seeking an order compelling his wife to grant him access to their two children.
The case, presided over by Justice Funmi Asaolu, centred on allegations of marital infidelity, interference by family members, separation and disagreement over the welfare and education of the couple’s children.
Paul told the court that problems began in the marriage when he noticed a change in his wife’s attitude and alleged that she became withdrawn and increasingly attached to her phone.
Paul Chukwuka told the Justice Court that he brought his wife, Amarachi, before the court because of unresolved problems in their marriage and his difficulty accessing their children.
He said the marriage had experienced several challenges despite his efforts to resolve their differences. According to him, Amarachi gradually became withdrawn, spent much of her time on her phone and stopped giving him the attention and cooperation he expected.
Paul said he repeatedly tried to find out what was wrong and encouraged her to spend more time with him through conversations and other activities, but she remained distant.
He added that her behaviour continued during a trip to the village for his grandmother’s burial and later at her father’s house, where he said she remained distant despite his attempts to discuss their relationship and resolve the problem.
He said, “I repeatedly asked her to open up about whatever was troubling her, but she refused to speak.”
According to him, “The situation became so frustrating that I eventually knelt before her at her father’s house and pleaded with her to explain what was wrong.”
He said, “Amarachi asked me to stand up because she did not want people to accuse her of using juju on me.”
Paul told the court, “I eventually returned to Lagos and decided to check my wife’s phone because I wanted to understand what was happening.”
Paul told the Justice Court that he later suspected Amarachi was seeing another man. He recalled an occasion when she visited his village and insisted on returning the same day despite his advice to stay overnight because it was already late.
According to him, she claimed she was going to their aunt’s residence, but he later discovered that she was elsewhere, which heightened his suspicion.
Paul said he confronted her by phone, and she told him she no longer wanted to remain in the marriage and asked him to come for his bride price. He said he rejected the idea of an immediate separation and urged her to return to Lagos so they could discuss their problems.
He said Amarachi maintained her position after returning to Lagos. According to him, his uncle and their pastor, who came with his wife, attempted to reconcile them, but their efforts failed.
Paul said the situation later escalated when Amarachi called a “big boss” and people came to their home to remove his belongings, which she claimed belonged to her. He said Amarachi eventually left the house with their two children.
He told the court that his main concern after the separation became the welfare and education of the children. According to him, Amarachi moved them to another location and withdrew them from their previous school.
Paul said he offered to enrol them again but Amarachi demanded N200,000 monthly before allowing him access to the children. He said he could not afford the amount and was subsequently denied access to them.