Boat accident: Family says Isaac divorced first wife

The Akere family has said Isaac Akere, who died in the Ikorodu boat accident along with his fiancee, Foluke, few days to their wedding, was separated from his first wife, Feyi.

The family said Isaac, prior to his death in the ill-fated boat, had instituted a divorce suit against Feyi.

PUNCH Metro had reported that Isaac and his fiancée, Foluke, were among the people that died after a commercial boat belonging to Bell Marine Services, capsized on the Majidun River.

There has, however, been controversy over Isaac’s proposed marriage to Foluke, after 36-year-old Feyi came out to say she was the legal wife of the deceased.

A report of PUNCH Metro on Wednesday had shown the marriage certificate of late Isaac and Feyi, dated 2006, and their engagement picture.

However, in a swift reaction, the family said Feyi’s marriage to Isaac had been dissolved.

Lawyer to the family, Bamidele Olayemi, showed our correspondent a court document dated April 21, 2011, which was allegedly authored by Isaac seeking dissolution of the marriage and custody of the two children the marriage produced- Ibukun Akere (nine years) and Ifeoluwa Akere (seven years).

Olayemi said, “There was a sharp disagreement between them when they were still together and as a result of that, Mrs. Feyisayo Akere decided to leave her matrimonial home. She had two girls. She left them behind.

“Her husband, who was a career man, was forced to institute an action at the High Court of Justice, Ogun State, Sagamu Division, seeking an order of divorce and termination of the marriage. This is in suit no. HCS/61/2011.

“A decree nissi, separating them was granted in 2011. The law states that after three years, such an order becomes permanent; meaning it can no longer be changed or appealed.”

“I advise Feyi to know she is no longer legally married to Mr. Isaac Akere and all the falsehood she has been spreading should stop. I expect her as someone who has lost her ex-husband in such a terrible accident to be sober,” he added.

However, Feyi insisted she was legally married to Isaac and was not aware of any divorce suit.

She said, “This problem started when my husband impregnated this woman in question. He rented an apartment at David Crescent in Ikorodu where he started living with her.

“I am not aware of any divorce papers. Can I be divorced without being informed? Let their lawyer talk to my lawyer.

“All I want is to have my children back. I have not seen them or talked to them since this incident happened. I never abandoned my children.

“Before Isaac died, we were already communicating. He had been begging me to forgive him. We were already developing rapport again. None of these people know anything about him.”

Her lawyer, Mr. Debo Olufeko, also dismissed the divorce as non-existent, challenging the Akere family to produce the court papers that sanctioned it.