She betrayed me, vowed to kill me, please, dissolve our 34-yr-old marriage, pastor tells court

A cleric, Pastor A. Samuel, has sought for divorce from his wife, Pastor (Mrs) O. Samuel, at Ile Tuntun Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Samuel alleged that his wife is a liar, troublesome, irresponsible, lazy and uncouth in her language.  He added that  she was not submissive and was always seeking for his death.

He, therefore, prayed the court to dissolve their 34-year-old marriage.

The defendant disagreed with the plaintiff’s prayer. According to her, she got married in church and made a  covenant  before God and those present at the occasion that she would stick to her husband till death do them part.

She gave their children as her second reason for not wanting a divorce   and the third which is that there is no place for a divorcee in her parents’ home.

The plaintiff while speaking stated thus:

“If I start saying all that my wife has done, we won’t leave here today. But I would summarise  everything in few words.

“My wife is not a straightforward person and has not been doing as she vowed on our wedding day.

“She’s not reliable and her words are cheap. The words that come out from her mouth are uncouth and far from  that of a virtuous Christian  woman, “he said.

“She’s also not responsible and very lazy.

“She told me the Holy Spirit told her not to work. But any time she is introduced to a business which appears lucrative, she would come back and tell me the Holy Spirit had asked her to work.

“I started my church while I was still in the civil service and made her a co-leader. But she betrayed me by  establishing  her own church without my knowledge. Her church has  branches in many  places.

“I reported her to her family and mine. They tried to call her to order, but she has  failed to change.

“She’s after my life and wants me to die. She has often threatened that if I don’t respect her views or allow  her have her way, I would die.

“Last year, she stole a curtain from the church. We looked for it everywhere  and later found it with her.

“She is  never willing to listen to the truth. She considers  those bold enough to tell her the truth as her enemies, including  her children. She now keeps friends who deceive and shield her from the truth, “he added.

“I don’t need to be told that my life is not safe with a betrayer as my wife.  I, therefore, want her to leave my home and never come back, the plaintiff stated.

“I don’t agree to my husband’s plea for divorce, “the respondent said in court.

“God said in His words that He hates divorce. On our wedding day, I pledged to my husband before God and witnesses that I would cling to him, for better, for worse. I am not ready to go back on my words.

“I also have the interest of our children to protect. It will certainly not be to the advantage of our children if my husband and I part ways 34 years after we got married especially now  that our children have started getting married.

“Lastly, my parents won’t be favourably disposed to the idea that I’m separated from my husband and so, they won’t open their doors  for me.

“I have never in my whole life threatened to kill my husband. Why should I want the father of my children dead, “she asked.

“The curtain he mentioned was actually a decoration hung on the church  window. We were all looking for it but we later found it under a table at home.  I believe it was taken home by mistake.

“I don’t have much to say than plead with my husband to forgive me of all my offence, “she stated.

The court president, Chief Agbaje Olasunkanmi having listened to the couple adjourned the case till April 12.