A couple, Ola Latunde and Ayo Latunde, has been asked by Grade A Customary Court, Oja Oba, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, to go their separate ways as a result of irreconcilable differences in their marriage.
This judgment was given by the court president, Mrs S.M Akintayo after she had heard both parties.
Ola had earlier approached the court seeking that it put an end to her relationship with her husband, Ayo on the grounds that he was irresponsible and neglected her and their children.
She stated that she fed him and their children from the proceeds of her business while her husband contributed nothing.
She also said that she singlehandedly enrolled their children in school and has been paying their school fees and buying their text books and other stationery.
The plaintiff said that she moved out of the defendant’s house when it was obvious that he was not ready to change.
According to her, Ayo has not given their children a dime towards their upkeep since she left him.
She thus pleaded with the court to hear her prayer of divorce and grant her custody of their children.
She in addition entreated the court to make her husband responsible for their children’s welfare, giving up most attention to their feeding and education.
Ayo in his response told the court that he was a low income earner and that he did his best to meet his family’s needs.
He told the court that Ola was promiscuous and usually brought her lovers to their home.
He added that one of Ola’s lovers once threatened him and made real his threat by getting him arrested and detained by the police.
The defendant further explained that the plaintiff boldly declared that she was no longer interested in him and walked out of their marriage.
He added that she had since denied him access to their children.
He thus pleaded with the court to rule that their children spent their weekends and holidays with him.
Ola in her evidence said that, “I started living with my husband after we held an introduction ceremony a few some months after we met.
“Ayo did not pay my bride price.
“I would not have ventured into marriage with my husband if I knew that he was an irresponsible man.
“My husband lacks the understanding of what marriage is all about.
“He regularly shirked his responsibility towards me and our children on the excuse of paucity of fund.
“He totally relaxed and refused to raise a finger in the home the moment he realised that I readily came to his aid and saved the situation in the home.
“I was always digging my hands into the proceeds from my business to feed the home and meet other needs.
“I bore the expenses of our children’s education from the payment of their school fees to the purchase of their uniforms, text books, other stationery and sandals.
“I spent more than N25, 000 on food on monthly basis without his contribution.
“All these gradually took its toll on my business and almost jeopardised it.
“I left his house with our children when it was obvious that he was indifferent to my plight.
“He took to harassing and threatening me after we moved out and refused that I had peace of mind.
“My lord, I do not want to have anything to do with my husband again.
“I earnestly appeal to this honourable court to grant my prayer of divorce and custody of our children.
“He has not given our children a dime for food since we moved out.
“I, therefore, plead with the court to rule that he should be responsible for our children’s welfare, giving importance to their feeding and education.
“I, further pray that the court to restrain him from threatening me.”
Ayo responding told the court that, “Ola knew my financial state before she got married to me.
“I earn about N3, 000 per day and we disburse this on the needs of the home, but she kept complaining that I was irresponsible.
“My wife was unfaithful to me throughout the time she was in my house.
“She had no regard for me and violated the marital vows.
“Ola regularly brought her lovers to our home, thus desecrating it.
“She and one of her lovers threatened to get me arrested when I challenged them and they made real their threat.
“I was arrested and locked up at the police station.
“She informed me after this that she was no longer interested in our marriage and walked out of it.
“In fact it was her mother who came to pack her belongings from my house.
“I was not surprised at her, because she had always taken sides with her.
“My lord, I have not been giving our children feeding allowance because my wife and her mother refused that I had access to them.
“They always shouted and embarrassed me anytime I went to their place to check on our children.
“I pray that the court rule that our children spend their weekends and holidays with me.
“I will give them feeding allowance and provide for every other need when they are returning to their mother.”
Giving her judgment, Akintayo stated that there was no marriage to be dissolved since no dowry was paid.
Akintayo granted the plaintiff custody of their children and ordered that both be jointly responsibility for their children’s upkeep.
The court president also restrained the defendant from threatening the plaintiff.
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