By Adetunji Ayobrown
An Ilorin Magistrate Court has granted bail to a 50-year-old man, Gbenga Akinyemi over adultery and bigamy.
According to the First Investigation Report (FIR) by the Police, Akinyemi who lives in Irewolede Area of Ilorin, Kwara State got married to Gloria in 2015. But, in January 2021 he started staying away from his matrimonial home often without his wife’s knowledge of his whereabouts.
The matter was reported to the Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command by his wife, Gloria. And investigations by the police stated that unification of the marriage between the petitioner and Gbenga was conducted at Registry in Ilorin.
Also, it was also discovered that the suspect had been living with one Blessing Eze as husband and wife after brief introduction/marriage, while the registry statutory marriage contract with Gloria still subsists.
He was said to have, in March, 2021 gotten married to one Blessing while his marriage with Gloria is still valid in accordance with the Marriage Act.
Bigamy; marrying again during life time of wife and adultery by man is contrary to Sections 384 and 387 of Penal Code.
However, the defendant’s lawyer argued that with the position of the provision of Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJN) Section 169, the court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
He also argued that the state prosecutor has not convinced the court that the condition stated in Section 169 has not been met or violated by the defendant.
After listening to both the state and defendant’s counsels the judge admitted the defendant to a N100,000 bail with two reliable sureties in like sum.
The case was however adjourned till July 29, 2021 for further mentioning.
