Desert your spouse, risk three years in jail

People take so many actions thinking they have a right to take decisions when it relates to their lives and relationships. Such beliefs can however be the reason individuals will find themselves serving jail terms. This is because many presumed innocent acts now fall under criminal acts, punishable under the laws especially in some states of the federation.

And if you are in Oyo state, many acts that border on treating your wife disdainfully because you are her husband and consequently, her perceived lord and master may earn you a jail term based on the provisions of the Violence Against Women Law 2016.

The Oyo state Violence Against Women Law 2016 was passed in order to prohibit violence against women in public and private life, put an end to harmful traditional practices and prescribe punishment for offenders under the law in terms of matters connected with violence.

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And part of the provisions of the law is that deserting your spouse especially without sustenance is a criminal act. Section 18 of the law provides that any man that deserts his wife without providing her any means of sustenance is guilty of an offence. Anyone found culpable of this upon conviction is liable to a prison term that does not exceed three years, a fine of N150, 000 or both, meaning that when a man deserts his wife without giving her a means of survival; he may spend three years behind bars.

The law however doesn’t end here.  Section 18(2) speaks on attempted desertion. When you attempt to abandon your spouse without means of sustenance, you have also committed an offence. And if you are found culpable of attempting to desert your spouse, you are guilty of an offence which upon conviction attracts a prison term of a year, a fine of N80, 000 or both.

Those that have no scruples about advising their friends or relatives to abandon their wives also need to err on the side of caution because giving the wrong advice can send them to jail. Section 18(3) of the Oyo state Violence Against Women Law provides that if you aid or abet anyone in deserting his spouse, you have committed an offence.

The subsection provides that any person or persons who incites, aids, abets or counsels another person to commit any offence under this section of the law is guilty of an offence and liable under conviction to imprisonment  of one year, a fine of N50, 000 or both.

Also, if you are found as an accessory after the fact to desertion, you have committed an offence. So, whenever you receive or assist another person who you know has committed this offence you are an accessory after the fact and if found guilty, it attracts a penalty of six months imprisonment, N30,000 fine or both. This is what subsection 4 of this section states.

Before you desert your wife, advice someone to desert his wife or help him carry out the act or even assist someone who to your knowledge has committed an offence relating to this, think twice and consider whether you are ready for a prison term.