A Muslim cleric, Alhaji Bamidele Asimiyu, has dragged his wife, Mrs. Yidiat Asimiyu to court, seeking the dissolution of their 24-year-old marriage.
Bamidele sued for divorce on the grounds that his wife was a difficult person to live, adding that he has got to his tether’s end.
“I’m fed up with my wife. I have never for once enjoyed our relationship for the 24 years we have being married. Living with her has been hell. I have therefore come to court so that either of us won’t commit murder, “he said in court.
“My wife woke me up one night and asked me to follow her to the back of our house. I wondered what she was up to.
“When we got there, she brought out a knife and pointed it at her protruding tummy. She was then heavily pregnant. She told me she learnt I’m taking another wife and threatened to kill herself if I dared to do so.
“I placated her, but later married two other women because her ways were displeasing to me and she was not ready to change.
“She is saucy and uncouth. She once insulted me; I pondered on the words she said to me and felt depressed. I locked myself up in the room for days. Were it not for neighbours who came to my rescue, I would have ended up harming myself, “Bamidele stated.
“My neighbours once called me while I was in Lagos that they saw some people measuring the land on which my house is built and taking pictures of the house.
“I rushed down to Ibadan and after interrogating my wife on what had happened, I discovered that those who came were my wife’s creditors from whom she borrowed money and failed to repay. She never informed me that she was taking a loan.
“Shortly after this, she lodged a man in our home for nine days without my knowledge. I asked her who the man was and she said he was the person who stood for her as guarantor when she took the loan
“I never knew the and I don’t have an idea of how they met.
“The most frustrating thing is that her creditors now parade our home threatening and harassing not only her, but also me.
“My lord, I’ve had enough of my wife’s irresponsible act. I’m fed up with our relationship and need a permanent break. I plead that you please separate us, ”the plaintiff concluded.
Yidiat disagreed on his husband’s plea for divorce giving the welfare of their children as her reason.
“I don’t agree to my husband’s plea for divorce mainly because of our children’s welfare, “she told the court.
“My husband lied that I threatened to kill myself because he wanted to take a new wife. Why should I especially that I was with a child, “ she asked.
“He gave me hell in our marriage which made me pack out of his house and stayed away for 10 years.
“We resolved our differences shortly before our first child got married through the help of our children and relatives.
“I have rapport with the two wives he took after me and they hold me in high esteem, I, therefore, have no reason to be bitter towards him for marrying them, “Yidiat stated.
“I collected the said loan during one of our grandchildren naming ceremony. The amount was N16,500 . It was our neighbours who called and misinformed him. I tried to exp[lain things to him, but he refused to listen me.
“He stated that I lodged a man in the house; he is my cousin. He was to supply plantain to his customers but encountered a problem and was unable to make a refund to his customers who stood on his neck. He came to hide at our place. It was during this period that he introduced me my creditors and stood as my guarantor, “she stated.
The court president having listened to both parties requested to have their parents or relatives in court. He adjourned the case till April 24 and ordered the couple to come to court with them on the adjourned dated.