A Lagos High Court has ordered that two children at the centre of a protracted custody dispute be returned to their father, Mr C.C. Okafor, pending the determination of the case involving him and his estranged wife, Anita Obianwu Okafor.Justice A.G. Balogun made the order on Monday after hearing an application filed by the father, who alleged that the children had been taken from his custody and kept away from him for several months.Appearing for the applicant, Ayo Adekunle told the court that Okafor had been solely responsible for raising the children after their mother allegedly left the family years ago.“My Lord, their mother left me years ago for another man, and since then I have been the one taking care of the children. I have provided for them, taken care of their welfare and ensured they received their education,” he told the court.PUNCH Metrocorrespondent, who was present during the proceedings, learnt that the father alleged the children were removed from his custody after they were taken from their school without his knowledge.Adekunle further told the court that the matter was later reported to the Family Affairs Unit, where the children were allegedly moved to an orphanage without the father’s knowledge or consent.He also informed the court that the children were taken away while a custody suit between the parties was still pending before the Owerri Customary Court.Related NewsVisa fraud: Immigration boss not under probe – EFCCCourt grants ex-Warri refinery MD ₦500m bailThings to know about Badejo-Okusanya, NBA’s second female presidentAccording to the lawyer, the Owerri Customary Court had earlier ordered that the children be released to their father pending the determination of the custody case, but the order was allegedly not obeyed.“The urgency of this application is that the father has not set his eyes on the children,” Adekunle said.The lawyer expressed concern over the children’s welfare, alleging that they had been moved from one location to another and were no longer attending school.“The interest of the children will be jeopardised,” he added, arguing that the prolonged separation from their father was affecting both their welfare and education.After hearing the arguments, Justice Balogun directed that the custody proceedings be transferred from the Owerri Customary Court to the appropriate magistrate court for further hearing.The judge also ordered that the children be returned to their father pending the determination of the custody dispute.The ruling is the latest development in the legal battle between Mr Okafor and Anita Obianwu Okafor over the custody of their children. Justice A.G. Balogun made the order on Monday after hearing an application filed by the father, who alleged that the children had been taken from his custody and kept away from him for several months.Appearing for the applicant, Ayo Adekunle told the court that Okafor had been solely responsible for raising the children after their mother allegedly left the family years ago.“My Lord, their mother left me years ago for another man, and since then I have been the one taking care of the children. I have provided for them, taken care of their welfare and ensured they received their education,” he told the court.PUNCH Metrocorrespondent, who was present during the proceedings, learnt that the father alleged the children were removed from his custody after they were taken from their school without his knowledge.Adekunle further told the court that the matter was later reported to the Family Affairs Unit, where the children were allegedly moved to an orphanage without the father’s knowledge or consent.He also informed the court that the children were taken away while a custody suit between the parties was still pending before the Owerri Customary Court.Related NewsVisa fraud: Immigration boss not under probe – EFCCCourt grants ex-Warri refinery MD ₦500m bailThings to know about Badejo-Okusanya, NBA’s second female presidentAccording to the lawyer, the Owerri Customary Court had earlier ordered that the children be released to their father pending the determination of the custody case, but the order was allegedly not obeyed.“The urgency of this application is that the father has not set his eyes on the children,” Adekunle said.The lawyer expressed concern over the children’s welfare, alleging that they had been moved from one location to another and were no longer attending school.“The interest of the children will be jeopardised,” he added, arguing that the prolonged separation from their father was affecting both their welfare and education.After hearing the arguments, Justice Balogun directed that the custody proceedings be transferred from the Owerri Customary Court to the appropriate magistrate court for further hearing.The judge also ordered that the children be returned to their father pending the determination of the custody dispute.The ruling is the latest development in the legal battle between Mr Okafor and Anita Obianwu Okafor over the custody of their children. Appearing for the applicant, Ayo Adekunle told the court that Okafor had been solely responsible for raising the children after their mother allegedly left the family years ago.“My Lord, their mother left me years ago for another man, and since then I have been the one taking care of the children. I have provided for them, taken care of their welfare and ensured they received their education,” he told the court.PUNCH Metrocorrespondent, who was present during the proceedings, learnt that the father alleged the children were removed from his custody after they were taken from their school without his knowledge.Adekunle further told the court that the matter was later reported to the Family Affairs Unit, where the children were allegedly moved to an orphanage without the father’s knowledge or consent.He also informed the court that the children were taken away while a custody suit between the parties was still pending before the Owerri Customary Court.Related NewsVisa fraud: Immigration boss not under probe – EFCCCourt grants ex-Warri refinery MD ₦500m bailThings to know about Badejo-Okusanya, NBA’s second female presidentAccording to the lawyer, the Owerri Customary Court had earlier ordered that the children be released to their father pending the determination of the custody case, but the order was allegedly not obeyed.“The urgency of this application is that the father has not set his eyes on the children,” Adekunle said.The lawyer expressed concern over the children’s welfare, alleging that they had been moved from one location to another and were no longer attending school.“The interest of the children will be jeopardised,” he added, arguing that the prolonged separation from their father was affecting both their welfare and education.After hearing the arguments, Justice Balogun directed that the custody proceedings be transferred from the Owerri Customary Court to the appropriate magistrate court for further hearing.The judge also ordered that the children be returned to their father pending the determination of the custody dispute.The ruling is the latest development in the legal battle between Mr Okafor and Anita Obianwu Okafor over the custody of their children. “My Lord, their mother left me years ago for another man, and since then I have been the one taking care of the children. I have provided for them, taken care of their welfare and ensured they received their education,” he told the court.PUNCH Metrocorrespondent, who was present during the proceedings, learnt that the father alleged the children were removed from his custody after they were taken from their school without his knowledge.Adekunle further told the court that the matter was later reported to the Family Affairs Unit, where the children were allegedly moved to an orphanage without the father’s knowledge or consent.He also informed the court that the children were taken away while a custody suit between the parties was still pending before the Owerri Customary Court.Related NewsVisa fraud: Immigration boss not under probe – EFCCCourt grants ex-Warri refinery MD ₦500m bailThings to know about Badejo-Okusanya, NBA’s second female presidentAccording to the lawyer, the Owerri Customary Court had earlier ordered that the children be released to their father pending the determination of the custody case, but the order was allegedly not obeyed.“The urgency of this application is that the father has not set his eyes on the children,” Adekunle said.The lawyer expressed concern over the children’s welfare, alleging that they had been moved from one location to another and were no longer attending school.“The interest of the children will be jeopardised,” he added, arguing that the prolonged separation from their father was affecting both their welfare and education.After hearing the arguments, Justice Balogun directed that the custody proceedings be transferred from the Owerri Customary Court to the appropriate magistrate court for further hearing.The judge also ordered that the children be returned to their father pending the determination of the custody dispute.The ruling is the latest development in the legal battle between Mr Okafor and Anita Obianwu Okafor over the custody of their children. PUNCH Metrocorrespondent, who was present during the proceedings, learnt that the father alleged the children were removed from his custody after they were taken from their school without his knowledge.Adekunle further told the court that the matter was later reported to the Family Affairs Unit, where the children were allegedly moved to an orphanage without the father’s knowledge or consent.He also informed the court that the children were taken away while a custody suit between the parties was still pending before the Owerri Customary Court.Related NewsVisa fraud: Immigration boss not under probe – EFCCCourt grants ex-Warri refinery MD ₦500m bailThings to know about Badejo-Okusanya, NBA’s second female presidentAccording to the lawyer, the Owerri Customary Court had earlier ordered that the children be released to their father pending the determination of the custody case, but the order was allegedly not obeyed.“The urgency of this application is that the father has not set his eyes on the children,” Adekunle said.The lawyer expressed concern over the children’s welfare, alleging that they had been moved from one location to another and were no longer attending school.“The interest of the children will be jeopardised,” he added, arguing that the prolonged separation from their father was affecting both their welfare and education.After hearing the arguments, Justice Balogun directed that the custody proceedings be transferred from the Owerri Customary Court to the appropriate magistrate court for further hearing.The judge also ordered that the children be returned to their father pending the determination of the custody dispute.The ruling is the latest development in the legal battle between Mr Okafor and Anita Obianwu Okafor over the custody of their children. Adekunle further told the court that the matter was later reported to the Family Affairs Unit, where the children were allegedly moved to an orphanage without the father’s knowledge or consent.He also informed the court that the children were taken away while a custody suit between the parties was still pending before the Owerri Customary Court.Related NewsVisa fraud: Immigration boss not under probe – EFCCCourt grants ex-Warri refinery MD ₦500m bailThings to know about Badejo-Okusanya, NBA’s second female presidentAccording to the lawyer, the Owerri Customary Court had earlier ordered that the children be released to their father pending the determination of the custody case, but the order was allegedly not obeyed.“The urgency of this application is that the father has not set his eyes on the children,” Adekunle said.The lawyer expressed concern over the children’s welfare, alleging that they had been moved from one location to another and were no longer attending school.“The interest of the children will be jeopardised,” he added, arguing that the prolonged separation from their father was affecting both their welfare and education.After hearing the arguments, Justice Balogun directed that the custody proceedings be transferred from the Owerri Customary Court to the appropriate magistrate court for further hearing.The judge also ordered that the children be returned to their father pending the determination of the custody dispute.The ruling is the latest development in the legal battle between Mr Okafor and Anita Obianwu Okafor over the custody of their children. He also informed the court that the children were taken away while a custody suit between the parties was still pending before the Owerri Customary Court.Related NewsVisa fraud: Immigration boss not under probe – EFCCCourt grants ex-Warri refinery MD ₦500m bailThings to know about Badejo-Okusanya, NBA’s second female presidentAccording to the lawyer, the Owerri Customary Court had earlier ordered that the children be released to their father pending the determination of the custody case, but the order was allegedly not obeyed.“The urgency of this application is that the father has not set his eyes on the children,” Adekunle said.The lawyer expressed concern over the children’s welfare, alleging that they had been moved from one location to another and were no longer attending school.“The interest of the children will be jeopardised,” he added, arguing that the prolonged separation from their father was affecting both their welfare and education.After hearing the arguments, Justice Balogun directed that the custody proceedings be transferred from the Owerri Customary Court to the appropriate magistrate court for further hearing.The judge also ordered that the children be returned to their father pending the determination of the custody dispute.The ruling is the latest development in the legal battle between Mr Okafor and Anita Obianwu Okafor over the custody of their children. According to the lawyer, the Owerri Customary Court had earlier ordered that the children be released to their father pending the determination of the custody case, but the order was allegedly not obeyed.“The urgency of this application is that the father has not set his eyes on the children,” Adekunle said.The lawyer expressed concern over the children’s welfare, alleging that they had been moved from one location to another and were no longer attending school.“The interest of the children will be jeopardised,” he added, arguing that the prolonged separation from their father was affecting both their welfare and education.After hearing the arguments, Justice Balogun directed that the custody proceedings be transferred from the Owerri Customary Court to the appropriate magistrate court for further hearing.The judge also ordered that the children be returned to their father pending the determination of the custody dispute.The ruling is the latest development in the legal battle between Mr Okafor and Anita Obianwu Okafor over the custody of their children. “The urgency of this application is that the father has not set his eyes on the children,” Adekunle said.The lawyer expressed concern over the children’s welfare, alleging that they had been moved from one location to another and were no longer attending school.“The interest of the children will be jeopardised,” he added, arguing that the prolonged separation from their father was affecting both their welfare and education.After hearing the arguments, Justice Balogun directed that the custody proceedings be transferred from the Owerri Customary Court to the appropriate magistrate court for further hearing.The judge also ordered that the children be returned to their father pending the determination of the custody dispute.The ruling is the latest development in the legal battle between Mr Okafor and Anita Obianwu Okafor over the custody of their children. The lawyer expressed concern over the children’s welfare, alleging that they had been moved from one location to another and were no longer attending school.“The interest of the children will be jeopardised,” he added, arguing that the prolonged separation from their father was affecting both their welfare and education.After hearing the arguments, Justice Balogun directed that the custody proceedings be transferred from the Owerri Customary Court to the appropriate magistrate court for further hearing.The judge also ordered that the children be returned to their father pending the determination of the custody dispute.The ruling is the latest development in the legal battle between Mr Okafor and Anita Obianwu Okafor over the custody of their children. “The interest of the children will be jeopardised,” he added, arguing that the prolonged separation from their father was affecting both their welfare and education.After hearing the arguments, Justice Balogun directed that the custody proceedings be transferred from the Owerri Customary Court to the appropriate magistrate court for further hearing.The judge also ordered that the children be returned to their father pending the determination of the custody dispute.The ruling is the latest development in the legal battle between Mr Okafor and Anita Obianwu Okafor over the custody of their children. After hearing the arguments, Justice Balogun directed that the custody proceedings be transferred from the Owerri Customary Court to the appropriate magistrate court for further hearing.The judge also ordered that the children be returned to their father pending the determination of the custody dispute.The ruling is the latest development in the legal battle between Mr Okafor and Anita Obianwu Okafor over the custody of their children. The judge also ordered that the children be returned to their father pending the determination of the custody dispute.The ruling is the latest development in the legal battle between Mr Okafor and Anita Obianwu Okafor over the custody of their children. The ruling is the latest development in the legal battle between Mr Okafor and Anita Obianwu Okafor over the custody of their children.