Court moves to save 9-year-old union
Court moves to save 9-year-old union
By Seye Fakinlede
|
Worried by the rate of divorce cases in the society, a Grade A Customary Court sitting in Akure has asked a disputing couple not to hastily consider divorce, but seek for possible settlement for the sake of their young children.
The plaintiff, Oluwayemi Ayodele, 35, who was bent on her marriage had approached the court on the grounds that her estranged husband constantly beat her and threatened to poison the raw food she sells .
Sobbing, she said, “When my husband had a job, he was providing for the family. But when he lost his job in 2015, I began to shoulder the family’s responsibilities and even tried on several occasions to secure a job for him. Not for once did I complain.
“But in April 2018, his action changed and for the first time, he laid his hands on me, accusing me of dating one Ghara man, named Emma.
Oluwayemi also narrated instances of how she was beaten by her husband, claiming that she had some obvious marks on her back if only she could remove her dress in the courtroom.
She also told the court that she had since been daily abused, publicly disgraced while she slept in the passage of their rented apartment for weeks.
She revealed that she had willingly left the house sometimes in May 2019, alongside her two children (6), and (4), both boys.
The defendant, Amojo Ayodele, 45, denied his wife’s claims, alleging the Ghara man wanted to spoil her marriage, while he claimed he had never beaten her.
He said,” I cannot lie, I always say what I want to say. Permit me to ask her just three questions,” raising three fingers up.
He told the court how she refused to yield to his caution to desist from the Ghara man, accusing her of cooking special lunch for him, adding that her suspicious hospitality was the genesis of their problem, “ There was a time the Ghara man once challenged me to a duel. He even threatened that he would kill me and marry my wife.
“My wife has also been denying me sex, while she sang mockingly at home, that she does not care if I eat or not.
Amojo further told the court that the man had also parked out three weeks after his wife left, claiming that his wife even stood surety for him to obtain a loan, while she was the agent who helped him secured the house next to theirs.
He also denied asking the plaintiff to sleep at the passage, saying “ she had refused to come to the room , because of the first incident. I am only trying to separate the powerful control the man had on my wife, and not to divorce her”.
President of the court, Mr Akinleye Akinseye, reminded the couple of the effects the divorce might have on their young children, stating that when couple fight, most alleged threats were borne out of anger, emphasizing that the plaintiff had the sole power to withdraw the case and demand for a settlement of dispute.
The court, therefore, advised the couple to seek other possible way of reconciliation, while it gave the plaintiff time to reconsider her action before yielding to her pleas.
The matter was adjourned to July 3 for judgement.