‘My husband, father-in-law smoke Indian hemp like chimney, chase my parents with cutlass’

A woman, Muinat at Akinola has told Oja Oba/Mapo Court C Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State to terminate her two-year-old marriage to her husband, Olawale Akinola.  Muinat accused her husband of being irresponsible and uncaring. She further stated that he is a habitual liar, a drunk, Indian hemp smoker and that he derives pleasure in beating her.

She thus pleaded with the court to separate them and grant her custody of their only child.

“My husband hid his smoking habit from me till we got married.

“I came across wraps of indian hemp in his pocket while washing his clothes. I was shocked and demanded for an explanation. He told me they serve as a form of protection for him being a tanker driver,   but this made no sense to me, “she said.

“He’s a Muslim cleric, but he smokes like a chimney and constantly drinks himself to stupor. These habits run in his family. His father is also good at smoking Indian hemp.

“Our landlord threw us out of his house because he turned himself into a nuisance. Our neighbours were constantly complaining about him because he would fill the whole building with the smell of indian hemp and fight everyone in the compound when drunk.

“Our new neighbours received us with an open hand in the house we moved to because they took my husband to be a genuine cleric. They gradually became cold and withdrawn when it became known to them that he smokes and drinks.

“When smoking, he creates an impression he’s praying by lighting an incense in the room which smell overpowers that of indian hemp, “she added.

“He smokes regularly in the presence of our only child who is a male. Any time I complain he would beat me to a pulp.

“He doesn’t leave money for food and general upkeep of the home but constantly demands for food when he’s free from the influence of alcohol.

“I reported him to my parents when I couldn’t take his beatings any longer. My parents came with the intention of settling our differences but he chased them away with a cutlass.

“My lord, I pray that you make us go our different ways before he hacks me down with that same cutlass, “she said.

The defendant failed to turn up in court despite being served a court hearing twice.

Giving his judgment after listening to the plaintiff, the court president, Chief Ademola Odunade dissolved their union and mandated the defendant to pay the sum of three thousand naira to the plaintiff through the court to pack her belongings from his house.

He awarded custody of their child to the plaintiff and further ordered the defendant to pay the sum of five thousand naira monthly as his feeding allowance and be responsible for his education and health care.