Professor Sikiru Babarinde, a lecturer at the Department of Early Childhood and Educational Foundations, University of Ibadan has been dragged before a Grade A Customary Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, by his spouse, Dr. Bilikis Babarinde, over the non-payment of their children's school fees.
The professor was accused of disobeying a court order which had directed him to cater to the three children bore from the union, pending the dissolution of their marriage. It was reported that he only paid the school fees during the first term and refused to pay in the second term academic session.
Dr. Bilikis, who is also a lecturer at the Department of Library, Archival and Information Studies Faculty of Education, of the same university, had earlier told the court that the 20-year marriage to her estranged husband had broken down completely and should be dissolved.
The counsel to the respondent, Mr. Yusuf Anikulapo, told the court that the professor paid the first term fees of the children but the wife had been frustrating all efforts to resolve the matter and trying to poison the mind of the children against their father.
He also argued that his client had earlier filed an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court committal on the matter and said his application on jurisdiction ought to be heard before other applications.
The President of the court, R. Gbadamosi, said the court would take the applications for jurisdiction and committal together in order to save time, and the case was adjourned till May 16 for a hearing of the application on jurisdiction and committal.
