Grade A Customary Court, Oja Oba, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has dissolved the 20-year-old wedlock between a couple, Tawa Lawola and Ganiyu Lawola on the grounds of irresponsibility, theft, physical assault and threat to life by the latter towards the former.
Tawa, who dragged her husband to court, claimed that he was irresponsible and that he neglected his duties towards her and their children and left them to suffer.
She added that her husband beat her at every given opportunity and would tear her clothes, leaving her naked.
The plaintiff further said that the defendant always accused her of infidelity and stopped having sex with her.
She also stated that he threatened to pour acid on her.
Tawa said Ganiyu never deemed it fit to give her allowance for the upkeep of the home, but would steal her money.
According to her, he also sold some of her property without her consent.
Tawa told the court that she moved out of his house when she could no longer bear with his atrocities.
The plaintiff said that the defendant never ceased to harass and threaten her since she left him.
Tawa explained that Ganiyu always waylaid and beat her.
The plaintiff therefore prayed the court to end their marriage, grant her custody of their children, but make the defendant responsible for their welfare.
She also pleaded with the court to mandate him to return all her property that he sold.
Tawa further begged the court to restrain him from harassing, threatening and physically assaulting her in the public.
Ganiyu denied all the allegations brought against him, but acceded to divorce.
Tawa in her testimony said, “I want an end to my 20-year-old marriage to my husband because he has made my life miserable.
“My husband and I held an introduction ceremony a few months after we met and I moved into his house.
“He did not pay my dowry nor took gifts to my parents.
“Ganiyu started beating immediately we got married. He turned me into his drum that he beat every day.
“We fought every now and then because he refused to be responsible.
“He did not give me feeding allowance and always expected that I cook for him.
“He got worse when we started having our children.
“He made them go hungry on many occasions which did not go well with me.
“We fought over this many times. He would beat me, tear my clothes and leave me naked.
“Our neighbours after a while kept their distance because he would get angry and destroy their property for mediating in our differences.
“When I return to our house when we foguth, my parents would always ask me to return to him.
“My lord, my husband refused to lift a finger in the home.
“He left me to feed the home, pay the rent and our children’s school fees.
“I struggled to gather an amount to run a business. He never asked me how I came by the money, while he ensured we fed from it till it finished and the purpose for which I got it was aborted.
“He requested that I borrowed money to pay our last house rent with the promise of making a refund, but he reneged on his promise.
“He never asked till date if I have paid back the money or not.
“My lord, my husband is a thief. He was in the habit of stealing the money I kept in the house and would deny it.
“I suddenly noticed that some of the property I bought for the comfort of the home had also disappeared.
“I later got to know he carted them away and sold them.
“Ganiyu in order to save his face started accusing me of infidelity.
“He stopped sleeping with me and once threatened to pour acid on me.
“I developed hypertension because he refused that I had rest of mind.
“I later moved out of his house since I got no respite to his maltreatment of me.
“My husband has given our children only N1, 000 for food since we moved out about six months ago.
“He has not stopped harassing and threatening me.
“Of recent, he waylaid and beat me blue back.
“My lord, I pray the court to rule that we go our separate ways, while our children are handed over to me.
“I also beseech this honourable court to mandate him to be responsible for our children’s welfare, giving feeding, education and medical care priority.
“I further appeal that he returned all my property he sold, while he is restrained from harassing, threatening and fighting me.”
Ganiyu responding said, “My lord, my wife has cooked up lies against me.
“We fought all the time because she was stubborn and fond of returning home late and was never willing to change.
“We were on this issue for years. The more I complained, the worse she became.
“Her parents mediated in our differences and counseled her, but she turned a deaf ear to them.
“I once lost my patience and beat her to a pulp.
“She moved out of my house after this and came to court.
“My lord, I accede to divorce.”
The court president, Mrs S.M Akintayo in her judgment stated that there was no marriage to be dissolved because no customary marriage held between them and no dowry was paid by the defendant.
Ruling, Akintayo granted custody of their children to plaintiff while the defendant was mandated to be responsible for their upkeep and education.
He was also restrained from threatening or fighting the defendant.
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