Oja Oba/ Mapo Court C Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has dissolved the eight-year-old wedlock between a man, Sunday Akande and his wife, Bolanle Akande.
Sunday had sought for divorce on the accounts of stubbornness and constant fight by the wife. He added that the defendant was trying to usurp his position as the head of the home.
The plaintiff further prayed the court if his prayer was answered, to grant him custody of their two children.
Bolanle did not accede to divorce and also disagreed that the plaintiff be awarded custody of their children.
Sunday told the court that: “My lord, I’m tired of my wife’s atrocities. I’ve come to court in order to stop her from dragging me to an early grave.
“I no more have a say in our marriage because my wife is stubborn and always rubbing shoulders with me in the home. She now gives orders in home and flouts whatever instruction I give.
“These often lead to conflict between us. She has no worth in the neighbourhood because she’s regarded as a bad influence on the women there.”
“She’s wicked and has no feelings for even her own children.
“Our second child was once sick and I rushed him to the hospital. He was placed on admission and we both stayed with him till he was discharged in the evening after I had paid his medical fee.
“I dropped her and the baby at home and gave her N500 which was all I had on me. She came after me with the baby on her shoulder complaining that the money was too small and refused to take it from me despite my efforts at making her see reason. I explained to her I was short of funds because I couldn’t work that day as a result of the state of our child’s health but she remained adamant and rough-handled my shirt.
“I eventually escaped from her grip and made for my vehicle. She threatened to abandon the baby in my vehicle but I thought she was just bragging and I zoomed off.
“Few hours later, I was arrested by the police for abandoning our baby on the roadside. I was detained and locked up in the cell for negligence.
“My lord, I learnt at the police station that she left our baby by the side of the road after I had zoomed off and went inside. I was surprise a mother could do such a wicked thing to her child.
“He was taken to the baale of our area who summoned her after investigation on who owned the child was carried out. She told the baale and the policemen she thought I had taken the boy away in my vehicle, “he added.
“My lord, at another time, she fought me before I left for the day’s work and tore my clothes. Not satisfied, she came to waylay me on my route after I had loaded my passengers and forced everyone in the bus down. She again fought me, tore and turned my clothes to rags and left me almost naked.
“She never ceased to embarrass me. I have become a source of ridicule in our neighbourhood and among my colleagues at the motor park.
“All I pray this court this morning is to save me from further embarrassment by separating us and handing over our children to me because she has failed to be a good example to them, “the plaintiff stated.
“My lord, he’s a liar and will go to the hottest part of hell, “Bolanle said.
“I didn’t accede to divorce not because staying married to him has added any value to me but I don’t want our children to suffer.
“He hardly comes home. The last time I set my eyes on him was two months ago. He cares less about my survival and that of our children. He neglects us even when he’s around but has now totally abandoned us.
“I made an urgent call to him when our child was sick. He was initially reluctant but he eventually came. He gave me N500 as feeding allowance for me and the children and also requested that I took care of our sick son’s needs from it.
“I made him understand the money would not take us far but rather than listen to me, he shouted me and manhandled me. I decided he had the child in his care and put him in his vehicle.
“My lord, I didn’t know he later dropped the child on the road after I went into the house. I later received a call from Iyaganku Police Station informing me that our child was with them and that my attention was needed.
“On getting there, I was made to understand that he removed the baby from the vehicle and dropped him at the roadside. They added that a good Samaritan later came to his rescue and carried him to the baale of our community, who brought him to the police station.
“My lord, he lied that he was locked up. He was only asked to pay back to the baale the amount he used in feeding the baby while he was with him, “she told the court.
She went on, “He borrowed N20, 000 from me in 2014 with a promise to pay back in a few weeks time, but has failed to do so till date. I actually borrowed the money from my church members who later sold my property in order to get their money back, “she concluded.
Giving his judgment, the court president, Chief Ademola Odunade dissolved their wedlock and granted custody of their two children to the defendant.
The plaintiff was asked to pay the sum of N8, 000 through the court as their children’s feeding allowance and be responsible for their education, healthcare and general welfare.
He was further instructed to give the defendant N3, 000 to pack her property from his house.