A Rivers State Customary Court in Rumuogba has ruled that Mrs. Kate Ngbor must stop using her former husband’s surname, 11 years after their divorce.
The verdict came after Chief Sam Ngbor, her ex-husband, filed a lawsuit (OCC/9/2021) seeking a court order to prevent her from continuing to use his name.
After reviewing arguments from both parties’ legal representatives, the court ruled in favor of the claimant, stating that Mrs. Ngbor had no right to retain the name without her ex-husband’s explicit permission.
The court’s judgment ordered her to revert to her maiden name or choose a different surname—excluding “Ngbor” or “Sam-Ngbor.” Additionally, she was barred from presenting herself under that name in any capacity.
This ruling has sparked discussions on post-divorce identity rights and the legal implications of retaining a former spouse’s surname.
