A man, Rotimi, has approached Grade A Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, seeking the dissolution of the 15-year-old wedlock between him and his wife, Abigail on the grounds of irreconcilable differences and violence.
Rotimi stated that he and his wife started having issues early in their marriage, which they found difficult to resolve. He added that they gradually lost interest in each other, which resulted in a breakdown in their communication, and the two lived like strangers.
According to the plaintiff, the defendant became violent and once stabbed him with a knife.
At another time, she hit him on the head with a pestle.
Rotimi further said that the crises in their marriage almost shattered his life as it led to depression.
Rotimi offered Abigail custody of their only child being a female but requested an unlimited access to her.
Abigail refused to come to court despite being served court summonses.
Rotimi, in his evidence, said, “I paid through my nose to marry my wife, but she later became a thorn in the flesh.
“Her parents collected N300,000 from me as her bride price, and this I readily gave because I love her.
“Gradually, as we went into our marriage, she began to change.
“My once loving and caring wife became cold and distant.
“She cared less about my welfare and neglected.
“My wife and I lived like
cat and mouse.
“We were always arguing because we never agreed on anything.
“Abigail became rude and aggressive.
“She had no respect for me as the head of the home and always insisted on having her way.
“We had many issues unresolved in our marriage because it was hard sitting together to discuss meaningfully.
“This resulted in a breakdown in our communication, and we both lived like strangers.
“I could have been a dead man by now, but for…
“My wife became daring and violent.
“Abigail once stabbed me with a knife during a fight, and I bled profusely.
“On another occasion, she hit me on the head with a pestle and almost broke my skull.
“I felt afraid and unsafe living with my wife, which led to depression.
“My wife later abandoned me and left with our only child.”
“My lord, I want to move on with my life, which was why I came to court this morning.
“I pray this honourable court to end my marriage to my wife.
“I also request that our only child, being a female, be put in my wife’s custody while I have access to her.
“I promise to remain responsible for her upkeep, education, and any other needs.”
The court president, Mrs S.M. Akintayo, giving her judgment, stated that the defendant was given ample opportunity to defend herself but that she refused to come to court.
According to her, the court had no choice but to grant the plaintiff the relief he sought.
Ruling, Akintayo declared their marriage dissolved.
She put their only child in the defendant’s custody while the plaintiff was granted access to her.
The plaintiff was ordered to be responsible for their child’s upkeep, giving feeding, education, and health care priority.
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