The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Marriage dissolution

  • Court dissolves 3-year-old marriage over frequent fighting

    An Ado-Ekiti Customary Court on Friday dissolved the three-year-old marriage between Mr Mayowa Ogunrinde and his wife, Busayo, over frequent fighting and disrespect for in-laws.
    The petitioner, Ogunrinde, 35, a civil servant, also told the court that his wife has no respect for him.

    “ Most of the time, I do all the domestic chores while my wife will always watch me.’’

    The petitioner told the court that the respondent was fond of slapping him whenever there was a misunderstanding between both of them.

    He claimed that though he fulfilled all his financial responsibilities as a husband, he always went hungry, as his wife would never fulfill her duties in the kitchen.

    The petitioner pleaded with the court to grant his application for dissolution of his 3-year-old marriage to Busayo, to enable him enjoy peace of mind.

    He prayed the court to award the custody of their daughter to Busayo, but with a clause that he would take custody once she turned six years.

    One of the petitioner’s witnesses, Mrs Mary Oluyemi, 60, told the court that she, on several occasions tried to settle the dispute between the petitioner and the respondent without any success.

    Busayo, severally served with court summons was absent in court.

    President of the court, Mr Joseph Ogunsemi, after listening to the petitioner and his witnesses, said that the marriage had broken down irretrievably and consequently dissolved the marriage.

    ‎He awarded the custody of the only child of the marriage to the respondent for proper care until the child turns six years.

    Ogunsemi also ordered the petitioner to be paying N2,000 as monthly feeding allowance of the child‎ through the court’s registrar, effective from May,2017 for onward delivery to the respondent.

    He ruled that the petitioner would be responsible for the education of the child at all levels, besides medical bills.

    The president granted the petitioner unrestricted ‎access to the child‎.

  • My husband turned me into punching bag, wife tells court

    My husband turned me into punching bag, wife tells court

    A housewife, 30-year-old Rosemary Okeke, who met her husband on facebook,  on Wednesday pleaded with an Agege Customary Court in Lagos to dissolve the about 17-month-old marriage to her “jealous” husband.

    The woman, who had approached the court seeking the dissolution of the union, said her husband, Cletus, had turned her into a punching bag.

    Rosemary told the court that she met her husband through the social media platform —  ‘facebook’ while he was in South Africa and dated for few months before they had their traditional marriage.

    She said before her husband paid her dowry, he was so calm but after they got married, he became inquisitive and jealous.

    “My husband does not trust me, always wanting to know who l am talking with on phone or my whereabouts.

    “He keeps telling me that he is an Anambra man who does not take nonsense and  that he has paid my dowry, therefore, he has rights over me,” Rosemary told the court.

    She also alleged that the respondent (the husband) stopped her from doing business because of jealous nature and yet failed to care for her and their one year old child.

    Rosemary, who said the man had turned her to a punching bag, described him as a violent man who feels insecure.

    According to her, she was forced to move out of her matrimonial home when the beating was becoming unbearable.

    “There was a day he beat me following a misunderstanding, l fainted and was rushed to the hospital.

    “I want the court to dissolve the marriage and for the respondent to be responsible for the child’s upkeep,” she pleaded.

    The respondent, a resident of No. 1 Barachel Estate, Wilinsco, Iju-Ishaga, a Lagos suburb, however, denied the allegations of constantly beating his wife and failing to take care of his family.

    Cletus, a businessman who runs a bar, alleged that his wife is hot-tempered, claiming that whenever her phone rang in his presence, she would refuse to pick it.

    The President of the court, Mr. Phillips Williams, adjourned the case to March 30 for possible reconciliation. 

  • Court dissolves 35-yr-old marriage over frequent beatings

    An Ado-Ekiti Customary Court on Thursday dissolved the 35-year-old marriage between one Florence Oludare and her husband, Ojo.

    The petitioner, Florence, had approached the court for the dissolution of the union on the grounds of frequent beatings, threat to life and lack of care for their children.

    The 50-year-old trader and labourer told the court that her husband often beat her whenever she comes home late from the market or construction sites.

    She said the respondent, who was often drunk, was also not providing food, care and education for the children.

    The petitioner and mother of five said the apathy to the children’s education had negatively impacted on them

    She told the court that two of their daughters were impregnated while sleeping in other people’s homes.

    The petitioner appealed to the court to dissolve her 35-year-old marriage with her husband as she could no longer cope with his attitude.

    But the respondent, who is a retired transport driver, denied all the allegations levelled against him by his wife.

    The 75-year-old admitted fighting with his wife but added that he last gave her a beating 20 years ago.

    Ojo accused his wife of adultery while working as a labourer on a construction site in Akure.

    The respondent said inspite of  warning his wife  against a particular lover who she claimed was her employer, she still went ahead to marry the man and had been living together in the last eight years.

    He agreed that the union should be dissolved.

    One of the witnesses and daughter of the respo‎ndent claimed that her mother was lying.

    She said while her parents were to blame in the crisis that had dogged the marriage,  the couple’s daughter  said their father had been taking care of them while he was healthy.

    The daughter of the couple, however, appealed to the court to dissolve the marriage to enable her father have peace  of mind.

    The President of the court, Mrs Olayinka Akomolede, after hearing from both parties, observed that the union had broken down irretrievably and consequently dissolved the ‎marriage.

    She ruled that the last child of the couple, a 15-year- old, should continue to stay with the ‎respondent.

    Akomolede ordered that the respondent should grant the petitioner access to the child while she   must notify him before visiting the child.

  • Husband to court: My wife beats me often, separate us

    An Ibadan based travel agent, Mr Oluwatimilehin Oyewole, on Friday begged a Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan to dissolve his four-year-old marriage, to save him from constant beating by his wife.

    Oluwatimilehin had in a petition to the court said that his wife, Kehinde usually slaps or mishandle him anytime they had disagreement.

    “My lord, anytime I complain about Kehinde’s waywardness and lack of respect for me, she beats or attacks me with any dangerous thing within her reach.

    “Sometimes, Kehinde freely pulls my manhood as part of her attack on me.

    “Most of the time, I run out of the house for her even in the midnight.

    “However, it is not that she is more powerful than I am, but I am merely trying to avert bloodshed or casualty.

    “I am most disturbed by the disposition of her mother who always supports her misbehaviour.

    “Worst of all, Kehinde has exited my house for more than a year now and I have reports that she has been sleeping with different men around.

    “I was told that if I admit her back into my house without her confessing to me all those who have had sexual intercourse with her, I might have to bear the evil consequence that should naturally befall her.

    “This is the reason why I thought that I should let Kehinde go before she eventually kills me,” Oluwatimilehin stated.

    The News Agency of Nigeria [NAN] reports that when the matter came up, Kehinde was not in court to defend the allegations leveled against her.

    The bailiff, however, confirmed that Kehinde was served with the notice to appear before the court.

    The President, Mr Ademola Odunade, adjourned the matter to March 15, for further hearing.

  • Court dissolves 7-year-old marriage over infidelity

    Court dissolves 7-year-old marriage over infidelity

    An Igando Customary Court in Lagos on Wednesday dissolved a seven-year-old marriage of a businesswoman on grounds of the husband’s infidelity.

    The Court President, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, dissolved the union of Mrs Francisca Obeeji and Mr Ezekiel Obeeji, who failed to appear before the Court.

    Omilola held that evidence before the court, including Ezekiel’s refusal to appear before the court, showed that the marriage had failed.

    ‘‘Throughout the duration of this case, the respondent refused to appear before the court.

    ‘‘Therefore, the court has no other choice than to dissolve the marriage.

    ‘‘Both parties are no longer husband and wife; they are free to go their separate ways without any hindrances and molestation,’’ he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Francisca had sought divorce, saying that Ezekiel impregnated a woman he introduced to her as his sister.

    ‘‘My husband stopped making love to me three months after our wedding; he brought a young woman home and introduced her to me as his sister.

    ‘‘He told me that she would be living with us, and I accepted.

    ‘‘After some months, his ‘sister’ got pregnant and my husband ran away with her to an unknown destination.

    “He sublet our apartment to another tenant without my knowledge,’’ she submitted.

    Frascisca said that she had to vacate the apartment when the new tenant moved in.

    ‘‘When I heard that my husband did traditional wedding with his so-called sister, I travelled to his hometown to confirm from his parents.

    ‘‘His parents told me they could only accept a fertile woman as wife. They told me to go and marry another man.’’

    The businesswoman submitted that Ezekiel never truly loved her but was after her money.

    ‘‘When he approached me for marriage, he was jobless, but when he pleaded with me to allow him to join me in my business, I accepted.

    ‘‘After our wedding, he took over the business from me,’’ she said, adding that Ezekiel was constantly beating her.

  • Court dissolves 23-yr-old marriage over husband’s lack of care

    Court dissolves 23-yr-old marriage over husband’s lack of care

    An Agodi Customary Court in Ibadan on Tuesday dissolved the 23-year-old marriage between one Saudat Oladiti and her husband, Isiaka, over lack of care.

    The President of the court, Mr John Oladejo, while dissolving the marriage, said the actions of the respondent indicated his lack of interest in the marriage.

    “The defendant was adamant in honouring several summons of the court for possible peaceful resolution of the case.

    “The court has no choice other than to uphold the request of the petitioner.

    “The court therefore pronounces the marriage between Saudat and Isiaka Oladiti dissolved today (Monday). Both parties henceforth cease to be husband and wife,’’ he said.

    Oladejo, however, awarded the custody of three of the children to the petitioner.

    “The three children that are in the custody of the petitioner should remain with her since her evidences before the court had proved that she can continue to cater for the children.

    “The first child also should remain with the respondent until otherwise.

    “In addition, the respondent is warned not to molest nor threaten the petitioner henceforth,’’ Oladejo  stated.

    Earlier, Saudat had alleged that her husband often beat her   and refused to provide for the needs of the children.

    “His relatives were tired and are no more interested in intervening in our misunderstanding.

    “Our families have lost interest in our remaining as husband and wife.

    “I pray your lordship to dissolve this marriage so that I will be free from his molestation and brutality,’’ Saudat told the court.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the court had   adjourned the case three times in its bid to mediate and resolve the dispute.

    The respondent, however, failed to honour the court summon.

    The court subsequently delivered the judgment in the absence of the respondent. 

  • Court dissolves 9-year-old marriage for lack of affection

    An Ado-Ekiti Customary Court on Friday dissolved a nine-year-old marriage between Adeniyi Eiyebiokin and his wife, Adeola, for lack of affection, love and respect for parents.

    Eiyebiokin, 31, an artist, told the court that Adeola had no respect for his parents and often quarrel with his mother.

    The father of one, said he was tired of the union because he could no longer  leave under the same roof with a woman that he had no affection and love.

    He appealed to the court to dissolve his marriage to Adeola to enable him have peace of mind and free from incessant quarrel with his mother.

    He further appealed to the court to award the custody of his eight year old child to ‎him for proper upbringing.

    Adeola, 29, a fashion designer, admitted all the allegation and said that the petitioner ‎sent her packing in 2009.

    She said that she had a quarrel with his mother and took her child into his custody at the age of one year and one month then.

    Adeola told the court that since the incident occurred in 2009, they had both lived separately.

    The respondent, therefore, urged the court to dissolve the union because she was no longer interested in the marriage.

    She, however, appealed to the court to order the petitioner to pay the feeding and education of his child.

    The respondent also prayed the court to award the child in the custody of the petitioner’s mother‎ to her for proper care.

    The President of the court, Mr Joseph Ogunsemi‎, in his judgment observed that the marriage had broken down irretrievably and consequently dissolved the marriage.

    He awarded custody of the child to the petitioner’s mother‎ for proper upkeep and upbringing.

    Ogunsemi ordered the ‎petitioner to be responsible for the feeding and education of the child at all levels.

    He, however, ruled that respondent should have unrestricted access to the ‎child.

  • Wife to court: My husband left because I refused him oral sex

    Wife to court: My husband left because I refused him oral sex

    A 42-year-old woman, Fausat Ayinde has approached a Lagos Island Customary Court on Thursday for the dissolution of her 15-year-old marriage on grounds of emotional abuse.

    Fausat told the court that her husband deserted her because she refused him oral sex, adding that he made her feel inferior because of his complaints and verbal abuse.

    The fruit seller said that their marital problems started five years ago when her interior decorator husband came back from a trip to Port-Harcourt and asked her to suck his genital.

    “My husband got back from a trip and asked me to suck him, something we have never done since we got married.

    “When I refused he told me that is what other girls do to him outside, since then my husband stopped making love to me,’’ she said.

    The mother of two said that her husband also started complaining about her dress sense and her cooking.

    She added that he packed out of the matrimonial home three years ago and rented another apartment two houses from her with another woman.

    Fausat said that her husband came to her house on Nov. 8 to beat her up and pack out her belongings.

    “I am tired of the marriage; I have reported him to his family countless times but he has refused to change.

    “Since he left, I have been the one responsible for the upkeep of the children,” she said.

    She prayed the court to dissolve the marriage, give her custody of their children Ahmeed 15, and Ahmeedat 12, adding that the husband should be responsibility for their upkeep.

    The husband, Lukman Ayinde, 45, told the court that the genesis of their marital problems was not sexual.

    Lukman said that the basis of their issues was that his wife did not know how to take care of herself, her home, her man and children.

    He said that on many occasions, he had tried to upgrade her to his taste by buying her dresses, shoes and bags.

    He said that his wife was also very stubborn and had refused to change, adding, “she dresses awkwardly and is unattractive’’.

    “I have complained about her dress sense severally, my wife can wear mismatched top and skirt with dirty flip flop slippers to anywhere.

    “When I complain, she will say who is looking at her forgetting that I am her husband, I am looking, I cannot control her.

    “I cannot introduce her as my wife to my colleagues, she sells in Victoria Island, Kofo Abayomi and she meets notable people but she has refused to package herself.

    “She wears jeans skirt to bed, claiming that she is tired anytime I touch her.

    “She does not know how to take care of the house, her man and the kids,” he said.

    Mrs Opeyemi Olanrewaju, the court Deputy President said that Lukman was behaving life a typical African man who “sees women as sex object that he could use and dump.

    “You have been with other women and you are comparing her with them, before and after you married her, she gave you two kids there was nothing wrong with her.

    “Now she is no longer good for you,” she said.

    The court President, Mr Awos Awosola said that the husband should pay N220, 000, as the arrears of the money for the upkeep of the children on or before Dec. 20.

    He ordered him not to visit the house again and that the children should be brought to the court whenever he wants to see them.

    He urged both parties to maintain peace and adjourned the case to Dec. 28 for further hearing.

  • Court dissolves marriage over alleged infidelity

    A Grade “C” Customary Court sitting in Iseyin, Oyo State, on Wednesday dissolved a ten-year-old marriage over allegations and counter allegations of infidelity.

    The President of the court, Chief Adelodun Oyegbenle, dissolved the marriage which marriage produced three children due to irreconcilable differences between the couple, Mr Johnson and Mrs Esther Iyanda.

    Johnson had approached the court in July to seek dissolution of the marriage over his wife’s alleged infidelity.

    “My ears are full with stories of how she sleeps around with different men without shame or fear that I may get to know about.

    “The situation made me to send her packing and now I want it to be official that she is no longer my wife, “he told the court.

    In her response, the estranged wife denied the allegation of cheating, saying “he is the one that is not sincere with our marital vows.

    “I have never done anything like what he says, instead he is the one who has slept with two of my friends.

    “He sent me out and brought another woman two days after to take over my room, “she added.

    In his judgment, the court’s President, Oyegbenle, said it was obvious that love no longer existed between the couples could not resolve the crisis.

    He dissolved the union and granted custody of the two children to their mother.

    Oyegbenle ordered Johnson to pay N10,000 monthly allowance to the court registry for the upkeep of the children.

  • Court dissolves marriage over hubby’s inability to pay dowry

    Court dissolves marriage over hubby’s inability to pay dowry

    A Grade “C” Customary Court sitting at Iseyin in Oyo State on Wednesday dissolved a marriage contracted five years ago over inability of a husband to pay dowry.

    A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Azeez Akeusola watched calmly as court terminated his marriage to his wife Rashidat, due to his inability to pay dowry and other allegations.

    “This court finds it disturbing that families of the estranged couple were unable to resolve the lingering crisis between their children who have been married for five years.

    “Evidences of threat to life, lack of love and care are obvious. Both families have also lost interest in the union.

    “At this juncture, I hereby pronounced the marriage dissolved,” the President of the court, Adelodun Oyegbenle, ruled.

    NAN recalls that Rashidat had approached the court seeking dissolution of the marriage over allegations of non-payment of her dowry and a lack of care, among others.

    She told court that the union had produced a four-year-old child.

    Rashidat also told court that she had tried without success to convince Azeez to do the needful.

    “He said he does not have money, yet, he is living very large, drinking and partying every day.

    “He claims he does not have money to pay my dowry and be responsible at home.

    “I’m tired of living in this kind of marriage. I take care of the family all alone and his family members don’t appreciate that because they keep ganging up against me.

    “I have to find my way out of this marriage before they do me harm because they are fetish people,” she alleged.

    However, Akeusola responded: “I’m consenting to the dissolution not because she was correct in all that she said but because she is a very rude and uncultured woman.

    “She talks to my family members very rudely and in a manner that says she lacks home training and discipline. I’m no longer interested too,” he asserted.

    In the judgment, Oyegbenle bemoaned the inability of all parties concerned to resolve the matter out of court.

    He, thereafter, dissolved the marriage accordingly.

    This is the second time within a month that the court has had to dissolve a marriage on allegation of non-payment of dowry.