A woman, Ayinke, has sought the dissolution of her 10-year-old wedlock to her husband, Adele, at Grade A Customary Court, Court 2, sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, giving lack of care and love, and irresponsibility as the reasons for her action.
Ayinke explained that even though her husband always claimed to be the head of the home, he never carried out the duties attached to being the head of the home.
Ayinke stated that she started to shoulder the responsibility of their home from the outset of her marriage.
According to the plaintiff, she got fed up with the whole thing and walked out of her wedlock after the defendant travelled for two years to work, but to her disappointment, he returned with only plantains and yams.
Ayinke claimed that she was no longer interested in her union with her husband and thus requested that it be dissolved.
She also sought an order stopping her husband from threatening and interfering in her affairs.
The plaintiff further entreated the court for their children’s custody.
Adele denied all the claims brought against him.
He also refused that their marriage be dissolved.
The defendant stated that it was true that they sometimes had differences in their marriage like any other couple, but that they always ironed them out without a third party mediating.
Adele added that Ayinke deserted her without a quarrel.
The defendant stated that he was ready to take the plaintiff back despite being impregnated by another man.
He, however, pleaded that the court grant him custody of their children if his wife still insisted on divorce.
Ayinke, in her testimony, said, “Getting married to my husband was the greatest mistake I ever made.
“We met in 2013 and got married in 2015
“We held a wedding ceremony, and he paid my bride price.
“My husband established the fact that he was the head of the home the moment I moved in with him, but he never lived up to it.
“I started shouldering the responsibility of our home from the outset of our marriage.
“My husband practically handed the bulk of his duties in the home to me.
“I bore the task of feeding and clothing our family.
“I also paid the rent, enrolled our children in school and paid their fees as and when due.
“My husband always expected to find our kitchen warm and the table well laid without giving me a dime for food.
“I bought all the appliances in our home in order to make our lives comfortable even though my husband saw no need for them.
“I worked like a jackal to make ends meet while all my husband did was to live on my sweat.
“He was indifferent to our children’s education and never contributed towards it.
“I tried my best to ensure our children were not thrown out of school.
“I paid their fees as and when due and also bought their books.
“All my husband did was to complain of paucity of fund.
“We always quarrelled any time I challenged him to be up to his responsibilities in the home, and he would come up with flimsy excuses.
“He eventually travelled for two years to work. I was expecting a drastic change in our lifestyle by the time he returned.
“My husband to my utmost disappointment came back with only plantains and yams.
“I got fed up with living an impoverished lifestyle and walked out of our marriage.
“My lord, I plead that this honourable court, dissolve our union and grant me custody of our children.
“I further appeal for an order restraining my husband from threatening and meddling in my affairs.”
Adele, in his response, said: “My lord, although all that my wife said is not true, I still do not agree to divorce.
“I am a responsible man and was greatly committed to her and our children.
“It is true that we sometimes had differences between us like any other couple, but we always made up.
“We never invited a third party to mediate in our differences.
“My wife shocked me when she moved out of our home. She deserted me even though we did not fight.
“My lord, I am willing to take her back even though she is carrying another man’s pregnancy.
“If, on the other hand, she still insists on divorce, I then entreat this honourable court to grant me custody of our children.”
The president of the court, Mrs. O.E. Owoseni, after she had heard both parties stated that both held a valid and subsisting marriage since bride price was paid.
She added that it was proper to give the plaintiff the relief sought since she was no longer interested in her marriage.
Owoseni therefore declared their union dissolved.
According to her, their children are still in their tender age and thus need the attention and care of their mother.
Owoseni therefore granted the plaintiff custody of their children while she mandated the defendant to be responsible for their upkeep.
(Tribune)