HELEN THERESA ANEKE V. VALENTINE H. AREWWE ANEKE

MADARIKAN, J.S.C.: (Delivering the Leading Judgment ): In the Lagos High Court, the present applicant, Helen Theresa Aneke (by her next friend, Victoria Aneke), filed an application on the 12th of November, 1970, under sections 70 and 71 of the Matrimonial Causes Decree, 1970, directed against the present respondent, Valentine Humphrey Arewe Aneke

'to show cause why an order for maintenance and custody should not be made against him in respect of the child, Helen Theresa Aneke."

For the reasons set out in his ruling given on the 8th of February, 1971, the learned Chief Justice of the High Court of Lagos State dismissed the application. Being dissatisfied with that ruling, the applicant filed a motion in this Court on the 13th of March, 1971, praying "for an order for extension of time within which to seek leave" of this Court to appeal against the ruling. At the request of counsel, the motion was adjourned sine die on the 22nd of March, 1971, pending the judgment of this Court in the …