Grade A Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has ended the 14-year-old wedlock between a couple, Israel and Omolade on the grounds of lack of care, constant fight, intimidation and domestic violence.
Israel stated that he was no longer interested in their marriage but pleaded for their children’s custody.
The plaintiff said he had always carried out his responsibility towards their children but that the defendant refused that they spent enough time with him.
He added that she was raising them under a religion different from his.
Omolade agreed that their wedlock be dissolved.
The defendant refused that the plaintiff had custody of their children despite acknowledging that he never failed in carrying out his responsibility towards them.
Israel, in his testimony, said, “My wife and I got married in 2010, and I paid her bride price.
“I never knew I was trading off my peace and joy by getting married to her.
“My wife and I are obviously not compatible.
“We were always at loggerheads because she refused to give peace a chance.
“She was fond of picking at my faults and complaining.
“We fought almost all the time.
“My wife is violent and always fought me with dangerous objects.
“She moved out of my house after she had almost maimed me.
“She went away with our children and has always refused that they spent enough time with me.
“I have never defaulted in the payment of our children’s school while I give them feeding among others as at when due, but my wife would refuse that they spent just a night with me.
“She has constantly denied me an intimate relationship with them.
“What infruriates me most is that she has introduced our children to a religion different from mine.
“She is now dating another man who of recent took to threatening me.
“This man came to court with her this morning.
“My lord, I pray the court to rule that we are no longer husband and wife.
“I further entreat the court to grant me custody of our children so as to develop a bonding with them.
“Our children obviously need me since their mother is into a relationship with another man.”
Omolade responded, “My lord, I agree that an end be put to our relationship.
“It is true that he dotes on our children.
“He gives them feeding allowance as at when due and also pays their school fees on a regular basis.
“He even buys them snacks to take to school.
“But I disagree that he has their custody because they are still young.”
Giving her judgment, the court president, Mrs S.M Akintayo, observed that the love between both has waned and that their relationship has broken down irrevocably.
According to her, since both agreed to the dissolution of their marriage, the court had no option but to do so.
Ruling, Akintayo declared their wedlock dissolved.
She granted the defendant custody of their children while she ordered free access to them by the plaintiff.
The plaintiff was asked to be responsible for their children’s upkeep, giving feeding, education, and health care upmost attention.
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