An Igando Customary Court in Lagos State has saved a 12-year-old marriage threatened by wife battering.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the court president, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, resolved the differences between Mr Wasiu Jimoh and his wife, Seun, after months of intervention.
Omilola struck out the divorce suit by Seun, with an admonition that the couple should live in peace, love and harmony.
“Since the court was able to reconcile you through counselling, I urge both of you to go home and live in peace and love,” he said.
Seun, a trader, had accused her husband of constantly beating her.
“My husband derives pleasure in beating me. I have lost two pregnancies due to his constant beating.
“He once beat me and I fainted and was hospitalised for four months. He slapped my mother when she came to settle our differences.
“Wasiu broke my hand during one of our fights, “the mother of four told the court.
She added that her husband failed to take care of her and their children.
“He sometimes goes out and refuses to come home for almost a month without giving us a dime.
“The children stopped schooling since last year because my husband refused to pay their school fees.
“Wasiu consumes excessive alcohol, which makes him to misbehave,’’ Seun said.
She thus prayed the court to end their marriage.
Wasiu, a welder, admitted guilt.
“My wife steals my money which makes me beat her.
“I stopped giving her and the children money for food because she steals my money,’’ he said.
The respondent said that he stopped respecting his father-in-law since the day he pointed a gun at him.
Wasiu stated that his wife was violent, adding that she used to stab him with dangerous weapons.