“My husband has a sugar-coated tongue and is a pathological liar. I felt proud and convinced I had made the right choice when we met but was devastated when I discovered who he really is. I’ve had enough of his atrocities, please separate us.”
A woman, Gbemisola Olaleye has dragged her husband Abayomi Olaleye to Oja Oba/Mapo Court C Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State seeking the dissolution of their one year and nine month-old marriage.
Gbemisola in her suit accused her husband of neglect and battery. She thus prayed the court to terminate their relationship and grant her custody of their only child.
“My lord, when my husband says good morning, you should be sure it is thick dark. He’s dubious, fraudulent and deceitful in nature. He’s also a liar.
“When we met, he lied to me he was a travel agent. I believed him and when we got married my sister handed over to him N200,000 to help her secure a visa to Dubai. He failed to secure the visa and never made a refund of the money.
“I discovered he is an herbalist and not a travel agent after he duped my sister. He was in the habit of making incantations in the middle of the night and this he did almost stark naked. He also has a room in our apartment which is always under lock. I once asked him what he had in the room and he told me his friend who had travelled out of the country left his belongings under his care and these he kept in the room.
“I peeped into the room on one of the days he went inside it and failed to lock the door properly behind him. What caught my eyes were calabashes of different sizes and some fetish objects displayed there. I felt cold shivers ran through my spine. I was afraid discussing the issue with him because I felt he might harm me.
“We are always at loggerheads because he’s not a straight forward person and this has made our home devoid of peace. I got to know he has nine wives, thus making me the tenth. The first time I demanded for an explanation in that regard, he beat me blue-black and since then he has never stopped beating me.
“He once beat me while I was pregnant with our only child; I bled and almost lost the pregnancy. I was admitted in the hospital for weeks, “she said.
“My lord, he has quite a large number of clients he makes concoction and fetish things for at different price range, but he rarely gives me and our child feeding allowance. I take care of our child from my little income. He loves to look presentable and keeps sewing and changing his wears like a chameleon but feels unconcerned seeing me and our child in worn out clothes. When I complain he will say his business demands he looks good.
“We had a misunderstanding last year Christmas and he descended on me with punches and vowed not to leave me until he was sure I was dead.
“Not yet satisfied with hitting me, he went for a mortar and hit me in the stomach and ear thus damaging my ear drum.
“My parents made attempts at mediating in our issue but he refused to let peace reign and later threw out my belongings.
“My lord, I plead for divorce before he snuffs life out of me, “she stated.
Abayomi agreed to divorce and also debunked all his wife has said.
“My lord, all my wife had said are lies. There was never a time her sister gave me money for visa, she’s just making up stories.
“She’s irresponsible and never contended with whatever I provide her. I love her dearly. Our neighbours can testify to it that I do all in my power to please her. I even go to the extent of fetching water for her, but she’s just not satisfied. I’m at my wits end as to what next to do, “he said.
After listening to the evidence of both parties, the court president, Chief Ademola Odunade stated that it was expedient that their marriage be terminated due to the violence involved.
Ruling, Odunade dissolved their marriage and awarded custody of their only child to the plaintiff.
The defendant was ordered to be responsible for the child’s upkeep and this includes the payment of N5, 000 monthly through the court as feeding allowance, regular provision of school fees and other necessary things in line with her education and health care.