Popular Nollywood actor, Emeka Ike, on Tuesday informed a Customary Court in Lagos Island, Lagos, that he has filed an application before a Lagos High Court seeking to stop the lower court from further hearing the divorce suit filed against him by his estranged wife, Emma Suzanne Ike.

Emeka Ike had alleged In the divorce case that Rev. Chris Okotie of Household of God Church is the one behind the crisis rocking his marriage.

Emeka Ike seems to be taking the step to save his marriage from total collapse.

Though the actor have vehemently denied the allegation, insisting that he still love his wife, but the case has continued in court.

Ike who has pleaded with the court not to dissolve his marriage on Tuesday informed the court through his lawyer, Mr. A. Labi-Lawal that his client has filed a stay of proceedings application before a High Court in Lagos state.

The actor in the application marked FCMP/20054/16, which has Emma Ike, the the Customary Court’s President, Chief Awos Awosola as the first and second defendants, is seeking High Court’s declaration that the Customary Court of Lagos state lack the jurisdiction to entertain and determine the divorce suit, as the marriage between the estranged couple was conducted in Enugu state of Nigeria, under Igbo Customs and traditions.

Ike is also asking the High Court to declare that all the proceedings already conducted by the Customary Court of Lagos State in respect of marriage which was conducted in Enugu state of Nigeria, under Igbo Customs and traditions are null and void.
He is also seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the Customary Court’s President, Chief Awosola and any other person appointed in the capacity of entertaining, and/ or continuing the proceedings in respect of the divorce suit, whose marriage was conducted in Enugu state of Nigeria, under Igbo Customs and traditions are null and void.

His lawyer, Labi-lawal urged the court to stay proceedings on the suit pending the hearing and determination of the suit at the High Court.
Opposing the stay of proceedings application, lawyer to the actor’s wife, Mr. Iheanyi Awa, pleaded with the court to discontinuance the stay of proceedings application, and go ahead to deliver the judgement.
Awa who said Emeka’s application was aimed at arresting the court’s judgment, informed the court that neither his client or himself has been serve with the application.

According to him: “It is an attempt to arrest the judgement of the court. Am aware of the respondent to arrest the judgement which is to be delivered today. The stay of proceedings has been decided for a long time, and court has ruled that it has jurisdiction to entertain the matter. It is a ploy to frustrate the matter, they just wants delay the till another day. The court should give it’s judgment, if they are not satisfied they can appeal”.
After listening to the submissions of both parties, the three-man panel ruled that: “in view of the submission of the respondent, the stay of proceedings in hereby granted, and the matter is hereby adjourned sine die”.
It would be recalled that the actor’s wife, Emma Suzanne had in 2015, approached the Customary Court to separate the 16 years union between her and the Nollywood actor, on alleged incessant battery.