Benin: An Edo High Court in Benin has officially dissolved the 12-year marriage between renowned journalist Best Mbiere and her estranged husband, Okechukwu Mbiere, citing an irretrievable breakdown of the union. The court granted custody of the couple’s three children to the petitioner, Best Mbiere, and ordered her ex-husband to repay N21.5 million related to debt from his previous employment.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, who presided over the case, also mandated that Okechukwu Mbiere pay N100,000 monthly for the children’s upkeep, including their educational and medical expenses. The marriage, which began on February 8, 2014, came under legal scrutiny following Best Mbiere’s petition on May 17, 2023, seeking its dissolution along with several ancillary reliefs.
Best Mbiere, once a reporter for Independent Television and Radio in Benin City and now the founder of BeeTV News, testified that she had shouldered the family’s financial responsibilities since her husband’s unemployment in 2018. She requested custody of the children, a monthly maintenance fee of N150,000, and reimbursement for N7 million spent on establishing a business for her husband, along with the N21.5 million debt settlement.
Okechukwu Mbiere did not contest the marriage’s dissolution but opposed the custody request, arguing that the children were residing with his mother due to Best Mbiere’s demanding career. He also disputed her claims regarding property ownership, stating that one property belonged to his mother.
In his judgment, Justice Okungbowa emphasized that both parties agreed to the marriage dissolution and acknowledged the marriage’s irretrievable breakdown. He determined that the children’s welfare and best interests were paramount, thus granting their custody to the mother while allowing the father unhindered access.
The court reduced the requested monthly maintenance from N150,000 to N100,000, considering the respondent’s financial situation. Additionally, it ordered Okechukwu Mbiere to continue covering the children’s educational and medical expenses. Regarding the contested properties, one was declared matrimonial, while the other two were awarded to the respondent due to insufficient evidence supporting the petitioner’s claims.