My husband compares me to goat, wife tells court

A woman, Aderonke Ojediran, has approached a Grade C Customary Court, Agodi-Ibadan in Oyo State, to seek for dissolution of her five-year-old marriage with Oyeleke Ojediran, for allegedly comparing her with goats.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ojediran also complained that she was seeking for divorce because Oyeleke had refused to pay her bride pride and had been threatening her life.

Another reason for the divorce, the plaintiff said, was the lack of care for the only child of the union.

She told the court that, “ I packed out of my husband’s residence in 2013 when I could no longer cope with the bad characters of my husband.”

According to her, sometime in 2013, her husband brought goats inside their sitting room and compared her with the animals, saying she is the same as the goats.

“He used to beat me and had been careless about my welfare and that of the innocent child we have. In fact, I am tired of the marriage and I don’t want to die young.

“To make the matter worse, he refused to pay my bride price, instead, he turned me to a punching bag and treated me as he wishes,” she added.

The woman further prayed the court to allow her to take custody of the child for proper care.

The defendant, who admitted that he brought two goats inside the sitting room, explained that he compared his wife with the goats because of her bad attitude.

He also agreed with the divorce suit, alleging also that the plaintiff’s troublesome way of life was responsible for his hypertensive health condition.

President of the court, Chief Mukaila Balogun, then declared the marriage dissolved.

He said: “Having listened to the evidence of both parties, it is clear that there is no more love between the couple and they should go their separate ways as they stand unmarried.

“Custody of the only child of the union is to remain with the plaintiff and the sum of N3,000 is awarded against the defendant on monthly basis, being money for the upkeep of the child.”