He abandoned me, travelled out of the country two weeks after we were married

An Aba-la-Ohazu Customary Court in Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State, has dissolved the marriage between Juliet Igwe and her husband, Chibuzo, over abandonment and irreconcilable differences.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Juliet, who is the petitioner, told the court that her husband abandoned her two weeks after they were marriage and went back to Gabon where he resides.

She told the court that her husband took her to his home town and after two weeks of co-habiting asked her to go back to her father’s house and engage in a vocation.

Juliet said her father rejected the idea and reported her husband to his foster father, one Pastor   S.K. Ogbonna,  who took her in.

Her foster father, he added, later asked her to return to her father’s house since her husband was no longer interested in the union.

Juliet said she got married to her husband on December 29, 2015 under the native custom and tradition in  Akpugo, Nkanu West Local Government Area  of Enugu State.

She also told the court that since the second week of January 2016 when her husband abandoned her, he had not shown concern for her in spite of being told she was pregnant.

Juliet prayed the court to dissolve their marriage and grant her continued custody of her 10- month-old child pending when he would come of age.

Although  Juliet was present in court without a lawyer, Chibuzo was absent and had no legal representation.

Giving his judgment,  the senior magistrate, Diamond Olewengwa,  said  Chibuzo’s refusal to stop the  planned dissolution indicated that both parties  had  consented  to severing the union.

He said that the marriage, having broken down irretrievably as a result of lack of love and care, denial of sex, irreconcilable differences and abandonment, stand  dissolved.

He granted Juliet the continued custody of their son until maturity, adding that Chibuzo had the right to see his son whenever he wished.

He further ordered  Juliet to make a refund of the N50,000 Chibuzo paid as her bride price through the court.

Chibuzo was instructed to pay Juliet N30,000 monthly as upkeep allowance for their  child.

Olewengwa further ordered him to pay Juliet N200, 000 in bulk for nursing the baby from birth till date since he never  offered support  since the marriage was contracted.

He  said that the parties were free to remarry  and enjoined them to maintain the peace.

The ruling of the court, he added, should  be communicated to the foster father of  Chibuzo to ensure  compliance with  the judgment.