A Customary Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, has terminated the union between a photographer, Babatunde Olaoye, and his wife, Lola Olaoye, a hairdresser.
The court president, Chief Ademola Odunade, declared their union dissolved after he had listened to both parties, their witnesses and evidence presented before the court.
He granted the defendant custody of their two children and ordered the plaintiff to pay N8, 000 monthly through the court as their children’s feeding allowance.
He was also mandated to be responsible for the children’s education and welfare.
Babatunde had earlier approached Oja Oba/Mapo Court C Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State praying that his marriage to his wife be dissolved on the accounts that she is troublesome, promiscuous and still sleeping with her ex-husband.
He further pleaded that the custody of their children be granted him because his wife kept late nights and was not there for their children.
Giving his testimony when the case was first heard, Babatunde stated that his wife was troublesome and was in the habit of fighting him and their neighbours.
“She once fought with one of our neighbours and broke her head. She showed no sign of remorse which made her victim take revenge by breaking her head also. I spent through my nose paying her bills when she was receiving medical treatment.
“She keeps late nights and has refused to change.
“I took up cooking in the home so that our children won’t go on empty stomach since she returns home late.
“My lord, the major reason I have come to court is that my wife is still sleeping with her ex-husband. Our eldest child narrated to me how her ex-husband used to sneak into her room late in the night and leave early in the morning when she was with her father.
“My lord, I can no longer harbor a prostitute under my roof, please separate us, “Babatunde stated. Lola acceded to divorce but denied all the allegations leveled against her.
“My lord, all my husband has said are lies to win the court’s favour,” the defendant said.
“I’m married to an irresponsible, stubborn and strong headed man.
“He derives pleasure in beating and hitting me with dangerous objects.
“He was also fond of bringing home his girlfriends and sleeping with them. Any time I fought with any of them, he would beat the hell out of me.
“He denied me and the children feeding allowance and often neglected us.
“The last time we fought, he stripped me naked and tried to push me out of the house. I ran inside the bathroom and locked the door behind me. He forced the door open and aimed a shovel at me. I dodged it and it landed on the door. The shovel hacked the door into two, “Lola told the court.
Odunade adjourned the case till October 4 and ordered both parties to come with their children and parents.
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On the adjourned date, Lola’s father, Mr Bashiru Alo, stated that his family and that of the plaintiff who is his son in-law were close.
He added that the plaintiff’s father was like a father to him and was the one helping his family with the sales of their landed properties.
Bashiru stated that when Babatunde came with his father to ask for his daughter’s hand in marriage, his father called him aside and warned him that his son was stubborn, impatient and loved to have his way. “Babatunde’s father told me his son was stubborn, heady and never listens to advice. He, therefore, told me to ask him to write an undertaking that he would live in peace with my daughter.
“I thought he was exaggerating and I told him that wouldn’t be necessary. But now I know better.
“He nearly cut my daughter’s head into two with the shovel the last time they fought.
“He lied that my daughter was once married. She only had a baby while in secondary school.
“My lord, we have tried all we could to make my daughter and her husband see reason, but all have been to no avail. I, therefore, support the dissolution of their marriage, “he stated.