Oja Oba/Mapo Court C Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has answered the prayer of a woman, Atinuke Oluwadamilare who sought divorce from her husband, Ibitoye Oluwadamilare. Atinuke who had been married to her husband for six years without any child, in her divorce suit, accused Ibitoye of irresponsibility and negligence.
She, therefore, appealed to the court to put an end to their relationship.
Ibitoye did not admit to claim.
Ruling after he had listened to the evidence given by both parties, the court president, Chief Ademola Odunade dissolved their wedlock and ordered the defendant to allow the plaintiff pack her belongings out of his house.
Atinuke giving her evidence told the court that:”I’ve never enjoyed my marriage to my husband for a minute since we got married.
“My husband is a businessman and he’s often not at home because he runs his business at Saki. Even when he’s in Ibadan, he doesn’t stay at home. He’s a drunkard and can drink from dawn to dusk. He’s a regular face at joints and club houses. He will spend the whole day there and won’t return until around 1:00 a.m when everyone is in bed. I always stay awake till this time to open the gate for him since it’s just the two of us living in the house.
“He returns home heavily drunk and will descend on me with punches if I dare complain of his drinking habit, he will beat and drag me on the floor. At the end of the day, I will be left with a swollen face and bruises all over my body, “she said.
“We’ve had no child since we got married six years ago and he’s not bothered about this. I have sought for medical help without success but he bluntly refused to make himself available for medical examination.
“His parents are also not bothered about our childless state and never showed me any love or attention, “she added.
“My lord, he constantly shirks his responsibilities as head of the home. I provide food and other necessary things in the home. He likes to show off and give his friends and their wives the impression that he’s comfortable by buying them big tubers of yams and other food items when returning to Ibadan from Saki.
“I’ve come to court before he snuffs life out of me.
“I further pray the court to order him to allow me pack my things from his house, ”she concluded.
“I don’t admit to claim, “Ibitoye told the court.
“My lord, all she said about me are lie. It’s true I drink but I have not made this a habit. She obviously knew I drink before she got married to me.
“I also don’t beat her except she misbehaves.
“It’s true she used to borrow me money which I make efforts to refund.
“She accused me of being insensitive to her plight but she failed to tell the court that this problem runs in her family. Her other siblings also experienced delay in child bearing but are today parents. This gave me the assurance that we will one day have our children.
“She misbehaved and we fought. She came home the next day with her sister who helped her in packing her things out of the house, “he stated.