From Jimoh Ahmed, Ikare Akoko
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She denies me my conjugal right. I always provide for her needs, but when night comes and I approach her for sex, she always says no”
This was the submission of a 35-year-old butcher, Muritala Alabi at an Ikare Akoko Customary Court while giving evidence in a divorce suit filed against him by his wife, Bunmi Muritala.
Muritala who was responding to the claim of her wife that he always beat her said the major cause of their fight was her inability to let him have her.
He told the court that it started six months after her wife was delivered of their only son in 2016.
“She will not give in to my sexual advances. There was even a day that I have to prostrate for her just to let me do the thing but she refused”
Earlier, the wife, Bunmi Muritala, a 28-year-old house wife had told the court that she is seeking an end to her five-year-old marriage with the respondent.
Bunmi among other things claimed that her husband frequently fights and beats her.
She was also seeking the divorce on the grounds of no care for her by her husband and the fact that there is no more love between them.
In her evidence, the petitioner told the court that her husband curses her at will and don’t provide her with what to eat.
“He doesn’t care for me and the child. He only gives me N500 as daily feeding allowance”
“He always beats me and curses me and whenever he beats me I almost pass out”
“He even beat me in the presence of my father to the extent that there was blood all over my blood”
She therefore begged the court to put an end to the marriage.
“My Lord, this court should separate us, but he should be made to cater for our only son”
However, her husband, Muritala, while reacting to the her accusation that he is not taking care of her said he used to provide for all her needs.
“It is not true that I don’t care for her. In fact she don’t use to go to the market as I always buy the food stuffs and soup ingredients for her”.
“I also give her N500 as a daily food allowance. I am not opposing her call for divorce” the respondent told the court.
In its judgment, the court noted that there is no more love between the two as their love has faded.
The court president, Mr S.S. Rotimi with whom was Mrs C.O. Akande therefore dissolved the five-year-old marriage.
The court ordered that the only issue of the marriage, a two and half year old boy should continue to be in the custody of the petitioner where he is presently.
It also ordered the respondent to be paying a monthly feeding allowance of N3,000.00 monthly to the child.
The court further ordered that Muritala Alabi should come to the court with a summon whenever he want to take custody of the child upon attaining the mandatory age of six.
Civil visit and right of appeal within 30 days were given to both parties.