SUNTV Global Channel | News
January 15, 2026
A Grade A Customary Court sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has dissolved the 30-year-old marriage between two senior police officers—Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Gladys Faniyi and her husband, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Abayomi Faniyi—following allegations of domestic violence, infidelity and irreconcilable differences.
The court, presided over by Mrs. S. M. Akintayo, delivered the judgment on Thursday, formally bringing to an end a union that began in September 1996.
In her ruling, the court held that the marriage had broken down irretrievably and that continuing the relationship would only endanger peace and emotional wellbeing.
“The marriage between the petitioner and the respondent has ceased to exist, as both parties no longer wish to live together as husband and wife,” Akintayo declared.
The court further ordered ACP Abayomi Faniyi to take full responsibility for the education and general welfare of the children of the marriage. It also granted a restraining order, barring him from harassing, embarrassing or disturbing the petitioner in any form.
Allegations of Abuse and Infidelity
CSP Gladys Faniyi, who approached the court seeking the dissolution of the marriage, told the court that she could no longer endure what she described as years of physical abuse, emotional trauma and repeated acts of infidelity by her husband.
According to her testimony, the marriage became troubled almost immediately after she moved in with her husband in September 1996.
“My lord, ever since I moved in with Abayomi on September 23, 1996, it has been one problem after another in this marriage,” she said.
She accused her husband of constant complaints, physical assaults and humiliation, adding that relocating to different states did nothing to improve the situation.
“He keeps complaining and beating me. Even when we relocated from Port Harcourt to Lagos in 2010, nothing changed,” she told the court.
Gladys further alleged that the situation worsened in 2018 when she was forced out of the matrimonial home, an incident that led to the children leaving with her.
“I was forced to pack out of his house in 2018, and the children followed me,” she said.
She explained that her decision to finally seek a legal end to the marriage was largely due to her husband’s alleged refusal to stop bringing other women into their home.
“I asked him to stop bringing his girlfriends into our matrimonial home, but he refused,” she stated.
She also denied claims that she denied him access to the children or reported him to the police, describing such allegations as false.
“Since we separated, I have been solely responsible for paying the children’s school fees and taking care of them,” she added.
Husband Denies Claims
In his response, ACP Abayomi Faniyi denied most of the allegations, describing his wife as troublesome and difficult to manage.
“My lord, Gladys is too troublesome. I tried my best to manage her, but she was unrepentant,” he said.
While admitting to a physical altercation, he attempted to downplay it, saying it occurred during a misunderstanding.
“I once gave her a blow during an argument, and she hit her mouth on a table,” he told the court.
He also accused his wife of physically assaulting him and maintaining close relationships with male friends, which he claimed raised concerns.
“Most of her friends are men, and she never gave me any tangible reason for those relationships,” he alleged, claiming he once caught her in a compromising situation.
On the issue of the children, Abayomi insisted he had been financially responsible and involved in their lives until he was allegedly denied access.
“I was responsible for them. I even took one of them to the airport for his trip to Canada and supported him financially,” he said.
Court’s Decision
After reviewing the testimonies and evidence from both parties, the court concluded that the marriage could no longer be sustained and that continued cohabitation would only lead to further conflict.
The dissolution marks the end of one of the longest marriages involving serving senior police officers to come before the Ibadan customary court in recent years.
— SUNTV Global Channel
