My wife slaps me at will, man seeking divorce tells court
A spare-part dealer, Olawale Idowu, told a Grade A Customary Court at Mapo, Ibadan, on Friday to end his 13-year-old marriage to his estranged wife, Yemisi, on grounds of constant violence.
Idowu, a resident of No. 25, Okeolode Aremo area of Ibadan, lamented that he regretted marrying her.
“My lord, in spite of my relentless endurance in our matrimony, Yemisi remained troublesome.
“In fact, I abandoned the house to her on Dec. 16, 2023, when she violently attacked me at midnight.
“Yemisi slaps me and tears my clothes at will,” he said.
He said that when she was served a notice to appear before the court, she tore the summons and threw it at him.
He tendered the torn clothes and the summons as exhibits.
Responding to the allegations levelled against her, Yemisi stated that she was convinced her husband abandoned her for another wife.
“It is true that there was a midnight fight between both of us in December.
“Idowu’s mother was aware of all that took place; rather than resolve the matter amicably for us, she threatened to deal with me.
“My mother-in-law called in the police, and I was arrested,” Yemisi said.
The court’s president, Mrs. S.M. Akintayo, held that none of the evidence tendered before the court indicated that there was a presentation of bride price, which was essential to the validity of a lawful customary marriage in Nigeria.
Akintayo said that there was no marriage to be dissolved between Idowu and Yemisi because the same never existed in the first place.
Contrary to Idowu’s prayers, the president of the court awarded custody of the three children in the union to Yemisi.
She directed Yemisi never to deny Idowu access to the children, in addition to being jointly responsible for their welfare, education, and other necessities.
Akintayo ordered them to go their separate ways from now on.
She also granted the order restraining Yemisi from threatening, harassing, disturbing, and interfering in the private life of Idowu henceforth.
