“He spent his money on liquor and would always instruct that I run the home with my money. Any time I heeded his instruction, peace would reign in the home. But whenever I complained or refused to use my money, hell would be let loose.
“He would come home drunk and wait till midnight when our neighbours would have gone to bed to unleash his anger on me. He would then beat me to a pulp.
“This had been the pattern till I moved out of his house.
“My lord, I’m no longer interested in our relationship. I, therefore, pray for divorce.”
Sakirat Alagbe had brought a divorce suit before Oja Oba/Mapo Court C Customary Court, Mapo,
Ibadan, Oyo State, praying the court to put an end to the relationship between her and her husband, Adelani Alagbe and award her custody of their four children.
Sakirat in her suit accused her husband of negligence and constant battery. He added that he was a drunk.
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“My husband stresses it every now and then that he’s the head of the home, but he acts with an empty head.
“All he knows to do is to drink himself to stupor. He spends all his earnings as a bricklayer on liquor. He can drink from dawn to dusk, but when I ask him for feeding allowance, he will tell me he has no money.
“He often tells me to feed the family with my income and this I do on a regular basis because I don’t want our children to suffer.
“Any time I cook, he takes the largest share and the best part of the meat or fish. But any time I lack sufficient fund to feed the home, he goes irate and beats me.
“When he comes home drunk and meets no food on the table, he will wait till it was midnight when our children and neighbours are in bed and will pounce on me. He will lock the door, drag me out of bed and start pushing and kicking me. He will then descend on me with punches.
“Most times he won’t leave me until I have swollen face or blue eyes.
“He will also transfer his anger to the children the following day, shouting and cursing them, Sakirat said in court.
“I’m solely responsible for our children’s education, clothing and other expenses because their father feels quite unconcerned.
“Our eldest child who is a girl ran away from home because he’s too harsh with the children. She’s presently staying with a church member, but this is unknown to him.
“He believes the child is missing but feels unconcerned. He didn’t search for her whereabouts or make a report at the police station.
“His church member asked him to come and see him but he refused to go.
“My lord, I only have one life to live and this is gradually being wasted by my husband.
“I desire a new lease of life and this can only be guaranteed through divorce, “Sakirat stated.
The defendant did not show up in court after having been served a court summon and court hearing.
Giving his judgment, the court president, Chief Ademola Odunade dissolved their union and granted the plaintiff custody of their four children.
The defendant was ordered to pay N10.000 monthly through the court as the children’s feeding allowance.