He abandoned us when our nine-year-old child was 15 days old —Woman

A woman, Dasola Ismaila has brought a divorce suit against her husband, Babatunde Ismaila at Oja Oba/Mapo Court C Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Dasola in her suit alleged that her husband was irresponsible and troublesome. She added that he abandoned her when their baby was just 15 days old.

She thus prayed the court to dissolve their union and make him responsible for the upkeep and general welfare of their child.

“My husband and I were living with my mother in-law from the outset of our marriage. I received little or no attention from her throughout the time I was pregnant. And when I was delivered of our baby, she told me she wanted to go and take care of his  daughter who was involved in a motor accident. She, therefore, asked me to move to my mum’s place which I did. Our child was just 15 days old then.

“My husband never checked on me and our child. It was our neighbours who paid me a visit that let the cat out of the bag. They told me my mother in-law was lying. According to them, my husband impregnated another woman and got married to her shortly before I put to bed. She advised me to move to my mum’s place so that my husband could bring in his new wife.

“My husband has abandoned me and our child since then. He never cared to know how we were faring. I was the one feeding, clothing and training our child in school. My mother also supported me with her widow’s might, “she stated.

“My lord, my husband surfaced at our place four months ago.  Our child is now nine years old. He told me he lost his father and told me the date of his burial. He requested to have our child with him throughout the week of the burial.

“I gave my consent and he took our child away. My lord he has refused to return our child to me since then.

“He refused to pick my call,   I, therefore, went to his place and he beat me up.

“He abandoned this child when she was 15 days old. I want the court to order him to return our child to me and make him carry out his responsibilities on her after it has terminated our union, “she said.

Babatunde acceded to divorce.

“My lord, she’s a liar. I paid our child regular visits and was always giving my wife either N1, 000 or 1, 500 as feeding allowance per week.

“She is married to another man and our child is with my mother in-law. It’s obvious she can’t raise this child with a firm hand while the environment in which she lives is not decent.

“It is true my mum went to nurse my elder sister who was involved in a vehicular accident. My parents went to see my mother in-law after my mum returned from my sister’s place because they noticed a rift in the relationship between my wife and I.

“After much has been said, my mother in-law insisted that my wife will return to me only if I moved out of my parents’ house and rent a new apartment and this I wasn’t ready to do, “the defendant concluded.

After he had listened to both parties, the court president, Chief Ademola Odunade, stated that more evidence would be needed.

He, therefore, adjourned the case till January 8, 2018 and ordered both parties to come to court with their child and parents.