He always beat me, attempted to rape my daughter —Wife •I always beg her whenever she provoked me or when I beat her —Husband

A businesswoman, Muinat Jamiu, has begged a Karu Upper Area Court, Abuja, to dissolve her five-year-old marriage to her husband, Adesina, for allegedly attempting to rape her first child.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported  that she told the court that her husband was in the habit of beating her 11-year-old daughter from a previous relationship at the slightest provocation.

She said her husband had attempted to rape her daughter on several occasions.

The petitioner also said her husband had neglected his responsibilities on their four-year-old daughter and was in the habit of beating her at the slightest provocation.

“Whenever I ask him for money for the upkeep of our child, he beats me up; he always promises to pay her school fees but ends up not paying.

“My 11-year-old daughter from a previous relationship stays with us and he attempted to rape her on several occasions whenever I was not around.

“I had to take my daughter away to stay with a relative.

“Last week because I refused him sex, he gave me the beating of my life to the extent that I sustained grave injuries and I have pictures to prove it.

“We have been married since 2012 and I have endured lots of beatings since then, but now, I am fed up and there is no going back because I don’t want to die,” she said.

Responding, Semiu Adesina expressed surprised that his wife could bring their issue to court.

Adesina also pleaded with the court to give them some time to go and settle their marital differences.

“I am surprised that she brought our issues before the court; we have always settled our issues amicably before now until she left the house with my child unceremoniously three months ago.

“I always beg her whenever she provokes me or when I beat her.

“I have also never attempted to rape her daughter.

“Please, the court should give us some time to see if we can settle,” he said.

After listening to their submissions, the judge, Ibrahim Walliyulahi, adjourned the matter till July 26 for both parties to return and update the court.

“You have a week to see if you can settle before then, please come on the next adjourned date to tell the court if you have been able to settle amicably,” the court president said.

The court said that nothing could be done on the issue of child custody until the determination and conclusion of this divorce petition.