A Lagos-based mother has formally lodged a complaint alleging that she has been denied access to her six-year-old twins for an extended period following her separation from her husband, raising concerns about the children’s welfare.
Mary Amuta, a resident of Ajah, Lagos State, says she has been unable to see or spend time with her children, Prince and Paris Oboh, since her husband, Sunday Chukwudi Oboh, took custody of them after returning from a trip abroad. The couple, married for approximately nine years, have been separated for about two years.
According to Amuta, her husband travelled abroad shortly after she became pregnant and did not provide adequate support during her pregnancy or in the early stages of raising the twins. Upon his return to Nigeria, he assumed custody of the children and has since lived with them at a residence on Taiye Odunj… Street, off Okunola Road, in the Egbeda area of Lagos.
Amuta alleges that her husband has consistently blocked her attempts to see the children, including for weekends or short visits, and says he now lives with a woman he describes as the children’s nanny. She expressed concern that the woman may be maltreating the twins, adding that being denied access has made it impossible for her to independently verify their welfare.
The complainant was clear that her grievance is not financial. “I am not seeking financial support from my husband, nor am I objecting to his responsibility for the children’s upkeep,” she stated, emphasising that her sole request is for regular, meaningful access to her children.
There is currently no court order governing custody or access arrangements between the couple. Amuta said the only outside assistance she has received so far came from the Nigeria Police, who helped her locate her husband’s residence.
In her formal complaint, Amuta is requesting intervention to facilitate mediation between herself and her husband to secure regular access to the children, to assess the children’s welfare and safety in light of her maltreatment concerns, and to take any lawful action necessary to protect the children’s best interests and uphold her parental rights.
She has indicated her willingness to fully cooperate with any mediation or other lawful process aimed at resolving the matter amicably and in the children’s best interest.
Under the Lagos State Child’s Rights Law, when parents disagree over who should have custody of their children, the law prioritises what’s best for the child, not which parent is asking.
This means judges in Lagos do not automatically favour the mother or the father. Instead, they look at the child’s overall welfare: their safety, health, education, emotional needs, and general wellbeing, and make a decision based on that.
In other words, the law treats fathers and mothers as equals when it comes to custody. Neither parent has an automatic advantage simply because of their gender; what matters most is which arrangement will genuinely serve the child’s best interests.
