Lagos court orders children back to their father in custody case

A Lagos High Court has ordered that two children involved in a long custody fight be returned to their father, Mr C.C. Okafor. This decision is temporary while the court looks into the case between him and his estranged wife, Anita Obianwu Okafor.

Justice A.G. Balogun made the order on Monday after hearing from the father. Okafor claimed that the children were taken from him and kept away for several months.

Ayo Adekunle, the lawyer for Okafor, told the court that Okafor had been taking care of the children since their mother allegedly left them years ago.

“My Lord, their mother left me years ago for another man, and since then I have been the one taking care of the children. I have provided for them, taken care of their welfare and ensured they received their education,” he said in court.

A reporter from PUNCH Metro, who was present during the hearing, learned that Okafor said the children were removed from his custody after they were taken from their school without his knowledge. He claimed he had no idea where they were taken.

Adekunle also told the court that the case was reported to the Family Affairs Unit. He alleged that the children were moved to an orphanage without Okafor's knowledge or consent.

He pointed out that the children were taken away while a custody case was still ongoing at the Owerri Customary Court. According to the lawyer, that court had previously ordered that the children be returned to their father while the custody case was still being decided, but that order was not followed.

“The urgency of this application is that the father has not set his eyes on the children,” Adekunle said. He expressed worry about the children's well-being, saying they had been moved around and were not going to school anymore.

“The interest of the children will be jeopardised,” he added, stressing that the long separation from their father was hurting both their welfare and education.

After hearing the arguments, Justice Balogun ordered that the custody case be moved from the Owerri Customary Court to a suitable magistrate court for further hearing.

The judge also ordered that the children be returned to their father while the custody battle continues. This ruling is the latest update in the court fight between Mr Okafor and Anita Obianwu Okafor over their children.