Question:
What was the central legal issue in Adeleye v. Driscal?
Answer:
The central legal issue in Adeleye v. Driscal was whether a customary Nigerian marriage conducted by proxy was valid under Texas law. The trial court found that the parties had a valid marriage based on the Nigerian proxy ceremony. On appeal, the husband contended that they were merely engaged and that he was still married to another person. However, he failed to overcome the presumption that the more recent marriage was valid. The appellate court upheld the trial court’s decision, emphasizing that Texas law presumes the validity of the most recent marriage unless a prior marriage’s validity is proven.