“My lord, my mind is made up on this issue, all I want is divorce. I can no longer cope with the reality that I share my wife with other men.”
A businessman, Saburi Lateef, stated this before the Ile Tuntun Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, during the hearing of a divorce suit he brought before the court against his wife, Kalifat Lateef.
Sabiru alleged that his wife was a drunk and a regular face at hotels. He thus prayed the court to dissolve their 14-year-old marriage and grant him custody of their two children.
“I’m a businessman and sometimes I travel out of town to buy goods and return during weekends.
“My lord, my ears are full of my wife’s escapades. She’s nothing but a whore. Our neighbours told me men often pay her visits whenever I was not around while my friends also informed me that she was a regular face at hotels.
“She was in the habit of taking our children to her parents’ place any time I traveled so that she could have enough time to attend to her lovers, “he told the court.
“She not only messes around with men, she is also a drunk. Thrice she drank herself to stupor and got herself naked.
“There was also a time she got drunk and was rude to my father. She went as far as calling my father by his name.
“I reported her to her parents; they spoke to her but she refused to change. Our parents are tired of mediating in our disputes because they have done so up to 15 times.
“My lord, she has dressed to court like a responsible woman, but if she removes her shawl and rolls up her sleeves, you will be shocked at the number of tattoos she has on her body She has three big ones on the neck alone, “he added.
”She has presently moved to her parents’ house and taken the children along with her which I objected to. One of the reasons is that my in laws’ neighbours are in the habit of sending them to buy cigarettes and alcoholic drinks since their mother is never at home.
“I endeavour to pay my children’s school fees, but anytime I give my wife money to purchase the children’s needs, she would spend it. I reported her to her mother who advised me to buy their things myself.
“While I did all I could to ensure that our children were comfortable, my wife felt unconcerned. The children’s performance in school is below average because she has failed to monitor them.
“Since we are now living apart and it is obvious she’s not ready to change, I took another wife who has made me proud, “he said.
The defendant, Kalifat Lateef, a make-up artist, agreed to her husband’s prayer of divorce.
“He’s a brute and almost succeeded in killing me. He did not only beat me, but stripped me naked.
“He was used to coming home late. He once came home around 1:00 am drunk and beat the hell out of me for not opening the door on time. I lost my two-month-old pregnancy due to his severe blows.
“I was admitted in the hospital for weeks and when I was discharged, our landlord sent us packing.
“He moved in with a friend and asked me to go to my parents’ place with our children. He promised to come for us when he completes the building of his house.
“Our second child was one and a half years old then. That was the last we saw of him. He abandoned us and refused to take up his responsibilities as husband and father.
“He lied that I drink. I have never tasted alcohol in my whole life. Again, I have never slept with any other man aside him since we got married. All he said about me being sighted in hotels by friends are false.
“I called him on a regular basis to give him update on the children’s welfare, but he has been indifferent to their welfare. He is also not committed to their education. I pay their fees.
“My lord, I was shocked and devastated when I saw my husband’s wedding pictures with another woman on Facebook. I called him to confirm if what I saw was true and he boldly told me that he is married to another woman and that he didn’t want me anymore because he wasn’t ready to be married to two women, “she concluded.
After listening to both parties, the court president, Chief Agbaje Olasunkanmi, stated that more evidence would be needed before the court gives its final judgment.
He, therefore, adjourned the case till May 12 and ordered both parties to come to court with their parents.