A woman, Faliat, has prayed Grade A Customary Court sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, to dissolve her 30-year-old union with her husband, Hammed, whom she described as irresponsible, a flirt and a brute.
Faliat told the court that she had learnt to endure their union for the 30 years they were together and that she was no longer willing to stay in it because she was unfulfilled.
The plaintiff explained that the defendant was never bothered about her welfare and that of their children.
She said that he always left her to carry out his responsibility in the home in addition to hers.
Faliat also said that Hameed ran after anything in the skirt.
According to Faliat, Hameed is inhumane and cared less about her feelings.
She said that her husband treated her as a piece of rag that is used and discarded.
Faliat explained that despite covering her husband’s lapses in the home, he still went on to humiliate her by bringing strange women to their home and sleeping with them in their bed.
The plaintiff further said that any complaint from her on her husband’s indecent and shameful lifestyle always earned her severe beatings from him.
Faliat stated that Hameed was brutal and always left her with wounds, a swollen face, and body ache.
The plaintiff explained that the last time they fought, he broke her nose.
Faliat said that she wished to live the remaining days of her life in peace, adding that this was impossible if living under the same roof with her husband.
The plaintiff, in addition to divorce, pleaded for custody of their last child, whom she claimed the defendant lacked the ability to take care of.
She further entreated the court to mandate her husband to take up the responsibility of this child’s welfare, paying great attention to her feeding, education, and health care.
Faliat also requested an order restraining Hameed from harassing, threatening, and interfering with her private life.
Hameed denied all the allegations brought against him.
He, however, acceded to divorce.
The plaintiff in her testimony said: “My husband and I have been living together for 30 years.
“We did not hold a wedding ceremony; neither did he pay my bride price.
“My experience in the three decades of our marriage has been that of pains and woes.
“I never enjoyed a day of our wedlock.
“Our marriage is blessed with six children who my husband constantly denied adequate attention and care.
“He failed in his responsibility as head of the home and breadwinner.
“I always come to the rescue because I could not bear our children suffer or starve.
“Despite always saving the situation in the home, my husband held no regard for me.
“He has no conscience and treated me like a piece of rag, used and discarded.
“My husband is morally bankrupt. He runs after anything in skirt.
“He is in the habit of bringing these strange women to our home. Not minding that our children are around and watching, he will sleep with them on our bed.
“Any attempt I made to call his attention to the reckless lifestyle he was living earned me severe beatings.
“My husband always ensured he left me nursing wounds and attending to a swollen face any time we fought.
“I writhe in pain almost all the time.
“I once called his attention to his neglect of our children; he got furious, pounced on me and dealt me with punches.
“He did not release me until he broke my nose.
“The scars all over my body tell of his maltreatment of me.
“My lord, I have endured our marriage enough.
“I desire to live the remaining of my days in peace and this cannot be possible living under the same roof with my husband.
“I pray that our union be dissolved and custody of our last child be granted me.
“I further plead that the court mandates my husband to be responsible for her upkeep, giving feeding, education and health care highest priority.
“I again request an order restraining my husband from harassing, threatening and interfering with my private life.”
The court president, Mrs. S.M. Akintayo, adjourned the case.
Tribune
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