Court Drama Over Deep Freezer Ends With Firm Ruling
A customary court in Ondo State has delivered a decisive judgment in a lingering property dispute between former spouses, ordering a woman to return a deep freezer she admitted selling during hard times. The case, which has been ongoing since August 2025, reached its climax at the Customary Court in Oke-Eda, Akure, with Magistrate Mrs. Temitope Falana issuing a clear deadline for compliance.
The Heated Court Exchange
During the resumed hearing on November 6, 2025, at exactly 11 a.m., Mary Afolabi dropped a bombshell when she revealed that the deep freezer her ex-husband, Mr. Afolabi Olufemi, was claiming ownership of no longer existed. She explained that economic hardship had forced her to sell the appliance to provide for basic needs.
"I used it to feed myself and the children when he stopped taking care of us," Mary told the court, a statement that triggered murmurs throughout the courtroom.
Her former husband immediately countered her claims, vehemently denying any neglect of his parental responsibilities. "It is a lie, my lord! I have never abandoned my responsibilities," Olufemi insisted, accusing Mary of fabricating stories to justify keeping his property.
The Court's Final Decision
When questioned about the current market value of the appliance, Mary acknowledged that a similar deep freezer now sells for between N80,000 and N90,000. However, her proposal to refund the amount by November 2026 did not sit well with the court.
Presiding Magistrate Mrs. Temitope Falana rejected this timeline and issued a firm ruling: Mary must either return the actual deep freezer or pay its full market value on or before March 31, 2026. The case has been adjourned to the same date to ensure compliance with the court order.
The property dispute first came before the court on August 13, 2025, at approximately 8 a.m., and has featured multiple emotional exchanges between the former couple despite their marriage having been dissolved years earlier.
