Music executive and talent manager Ubi Franklin has revealed the real reasons many Nigerian men are scared of contracting court marriages, citing widespread misconceptions and potential financial risks in the event of separation or divorce.
In a recent post shared on his social media, Franklin addressed the common fears surrounding legal marriages under the Marriage Act. He pointed out that a major deterrent stems from the belief that assets will automatically be split equally between spouses upon divorce.
“Many men are scared of ‘Court Marriage’ because they have this erroneous fixation that in the event of divorce, property will be shared 50 – 50 (not legally true).”
He clarified that even in customary or traditional marriages, courts can still award alimony if certain conditions are met by either party.
“Even in customary marriages, when one of the spouses (whether male or female) meets the conditions for alimony (money), the Court will grant it.”
Franklin highlighted a second major concern for men regarding gifts exchanged in relationships. According to him, once a gift is given to a spouse, girlfriend, or partner, it becomes difficult to recover during separation unless specific conditions were attached or the item was purchased in the giver’s name.
“Secondly, if you give your spouse/girlfriend/husband, or boyfriend a gift, you cannot recover it in the event of separation, unless it is accompanied by certain conditions. Sometimes buy the gift in your own name or attach conditions to it.”
The comments have sparked fresh debates online about the pros and cons of court weddings versus traditional marriages in Nigeria. Franklin, who has had a highly publicized past relationship with actress Lilian Esoro — their marriage in 2015 ended in separation after about a year and was officially dissolved in 2021 — often shares insights drawn from personal experiences in the entertainment industry.
His latest revelation comes at a time when discussions around marriage, divorce settlements, and financial protection continue to trend among Nigerians navigating modern relationships. Many men reportedly prefer traditional marriages to avoid what they perceive as stricter legal obligations under court weddings, even though Franklin stressed that some fears are based on incorrect assumptions about property division.