By Abdulwahab Abdulah
The divorce suit instituted by Lagos lawyer and human rights activist, Mr Festus Keyamo, against his wife took another dimension yesterday with the wife, Mrs Isioma Irene Keyamo, filing her response to her husband’s petition, demanding N20 million as alimony before the court.

The woman who had been on a running battle with her  husband told the court in her paper that the money would serve as a compensation for the psychological trauma, financial losses, sense of disappointment and her failure at the Nigerian Law School as a result of the breach of contract of marriage between them.

She had earlier prayed the court for an extension of time to enable her file her reply to the petition filed by her husband asking for the dissolution of their marriage. She also urged the court to make an order deeming the already filed, served answer and cross petition as a properly filed process before the court.

The woman represented by the office of the Public Defender, through their counsel, Mr. Jonathan Ogunsanya, told the court that they had a motion on notice dated November 11, 2009, which the court eventually allowed, since there was no objection from the applicant.

Justice Elfreda Williams-Dawodu granted the order but asked counsel to both parties if there were no outstanding issues between the couple before a trial date is fixed as demanded by Gloria Oahajaguan, counsel to Festus Keyamo.

The Judge said all outstanding issues pending before the court between the parties must be resolved before the commencement of the substantive matter bordering on the dissolution of the marriage. She consequently ordered a compulsory conference among the parties to settle the issue of cost of maintenance among other such issues before the commencement of trial.

It could be recalled that Mrs Keyamo in her papers asking for an order mandating the petitioner (Keyamo) to be solely responsible for the educational, medical, feeding, clothing and all other expenses of the two children of their marriage, and an order mandating her husband to allow her pack her jewelries worth about N350, 000, kitchen utensils, clothes and all other personal effects from her matrimonial home.

Besides, she asked for an order granting her the custody of the two children of their marriage.

Festus Keyamo had early this year instituted a divorce suit at the High Court against his wife without demanding custody of their two children.

Justice Williams-Dawodu has adjourned the case till January 27, 2010 for report of the conference between the couple.