Nigerian lawyer Barrister Daniel Robinson has explained why a spouse is not automatically entitled to financial compensation from a partner simply because the marriage has lasted several years and eventually breaks down.

Robinson made the clarification in a video circulating on social media, where he addressed questions about divorce and financial claims made by spouses seeking to end unsuccessful marriages.

Lawyer challenges claims for compensation over failed marriages

The lawyer dismissed the notion that a woman who has spent several years in an unhappy marriage is automatically entitled to millions of naira from her husband as compensation for her time.

To illustrate his point, Robinson presented a hypothetical case involving a woman who had been married for 18 years but had lived separately from her husband for five years.

According to the scenario, the woman wanted to end the marriage and was considering demanding ₦15 million from her husband for what she described as wasted years.

Robinson used the example to explain why the length of a marriage, by itself, does not automatically establish a right to financial compensation.

Discussion raises questions about divorce settlements

His comments have sparked conversations about financial entitlements during divorce, the division of marital assets and whether spouses can claim compensation after years in an unsuccessful marriage.

However, the full legal explanation and the specific circumstances that could affect a spouse’s financial claims were not included in the account.