By Wumi Ajibogun
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A middle-aged woman, Mrs Toyin Ogunlaja, has approached the Grade A customary Court sitting in Oke-Eda, Akure to dissolve her marriage with her husband, Mr. Ibrahim Ogunlaja on grounds of desertion, neglect, adultery and assault.
The petitioner, who alleged her estranged husband of constantly beating her said he is an unrepentant adulterer, adding that he brought his girlfriend to their matrimonial bed, despite the fact they lived together.
“My husband doesn’t care for the well being of the family and he rarely provides for the needs of the family . It got to a point when he sent me packing from our matrimonial home inspite of the fact that I have three children for him aged nine, six and four respectively.
“I managed to find my way back each time he sent me packing, but my husband never repented from his wrong doings.
“At a point, I left him finally with my children before he sent one of his girlfriends to bring back the children and he kept them with his sister.
She claimed that her mother in –law along with some elderly neighbours in the neighborhood took her back home in a bid to resolve the issue between her and her husband but that her husband had refused any attempt at reconciliation as he chased all of them away with a matchet.
“All efforts I made at reconciliation through his family, friends and their Imam and one Baba Akewubiewure were rebuffed, as he claimed that he needed to carry out some sacrifices before I could be allowed back into the house“, she recounted.
She further told the court that she was through with the marriage and had no interest in reconciling with her husband again because he had packed his belongings out of the house.
She pleaded with the court to dissolve the marriage and grant her the custody of the children along with the ownership of the house as she toiled alongside her husband to build the house.
In his defence, the husband, a furniture maker, said the wife does not have regard for his mother coupled with other factors which made him not to be happy with the marriage.
He stated that both of them are tired of the marriage because the woman was wasteful, disobedient and keeps bad company.
The case then adjourned till 7 March 2019 for continuation of hearing.
