Ubi Franklin Clarifies Why Men Fear Court Marriage, Says 50-50 Asset Split Is a Misconception

Nigerian talent manager and entrepreneur Ubi Franklin has weighed in on why many men are hesitant to go into court marriages, saying the fear is largely based on a misconception about divorce settlements.

In a post shared on his X handle, Franklin said a common belief among men is that entering a legal or court marriage automatically means assets will be divided equally in the event of divorce. He, however, stressed that this assumption is not legally correct.

“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 wrote.

Franklin explained that property division and financial settlements in divorce cases are determined by legal conditions, not a blanket rule of equal sharing. He also noted that in both statutory and customary marriages, courts may award alimony where the conditions are met, regardless of gender.

“Even in customary marriages, when one of the spouses (whether male or female) meets the conditions for alimony (money), the court will grant it,” he added.

The talent manager also addressed concerns around gifts exchanged during relationships, stating that such items cannot typically be recovered after separation unless clear conditions were attached at the time they were given.

“Secondly, if you give your spouse or partner a gift, you cannot recover it in the event of separation unless it is accompanied by certain conditions,” he said. “Sometimes buy the gift in your own name or attach conditions to it.”

Franklin’s comments have since sparked conversations online about marriage laws, financial expectations, and relationship transparency in Nigeria.