He threw my belongings out, arrested me with the police, I’m done with him —Wife

The 20-year-old marriage between Kadijat Balogun and Kazeem Balogun has been dissolved by Oja Oba/Mapo Court C Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Kadijat had dragged Kazeem to court accusing him of irresponsibility, neglect and battery. She, thus prayed, the court to put an end to their relationship and grant her custody of their two children.

Kazeem acceded to divorce but disagreed that his wife had custody of their children.

After listening to the evidence given by both parties,  Mr Sulaimon Apanpa, representing the court president, Chief Ademola Odunade, observed that their marriage had broken down irretrievably.

Ruling, he dissolved their union and granted custody of both children to the plaintiff.

The defendant was directed to be responsible for their children’s welfare and these include: feeding, education and health care among others.

According to Apanpa, he should provide N6, 000 monthly for their children’s feeding and pay their school fees as at when due.

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“My prayer before this court this morning is that our marriage be dissolved. My lord, I’m fed up with my husband’s irrational behaviour, “the plaintiff said.

“My husband has no shame. I was the one running the home while with him. I spent my income on the food we ate, the children’s fees and clothing. He cared less about my survival and of our children.

“Despite carrying out his duties on his behalf, he still looked for excuses to beat me. At the end of the day, he threw my belongings out of his home and got me arrested and locked up by the police.

“My lord, only a man without a conscience would do this. I’m therefore done with him, “she stated.

“My lord, the only regret I have in life is marrying my wife, “Kazeem told the court.

“I did what only a few men would do for her sake but she failed to appreciate me. She suddenly took ill and was diagnosed of a strange ailment which defied treatment for some years. I ran from pillar to post raising fund for her treatment while I later sold my house which was under construction.

“Immediately she recovered from her sickness, she started misbehaving. I reported her to her mum and mine and they both promised to talk to her while I was advised to be patient. Despite being counseled, she failed to change.

“I enrolled her in a fashion designing institute so that she could be empowered and sold my truck and rams for her graduation, but she was still ungrateful.

“To make matter worse, she became diabolic and started bathing with different kinds of soaps while I came across some fetish objects in her possession. I warned her against this practice but she refused to desist from it.

“I was later informed by one of those who made concoction for her that she kept a fetish object with them which she poured red oil on and that she rendered incantation on it on a regular basis. According to this person, the purpose was to be separated from me while her lover’s love for her grew.

“She also cursed me by saying I would return to my hometown naked.

“When I confronted her with all these, she denied them,” he told the court.

“I came back home one day and met an empty apartment.  She left with our children and my property. She kept insisting on divorce despite several moves made by my parents to reconcile us.

“She sent our children to me under a heavy rain during Ramadan festival. They were soaked from head to toe and looked uncared for. I was unhappy with their appearance and decided to put them under my care, “the defendant concluded.