My husband rapes me in the presence of our children, woman tells court

“My husband rapes me in the presence of our children,’’ a 40-year-old trader, Bolanle AbdulKareem told an Igando Customary Court in Lagos State.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Bolanle stated that her husband, Olasunkanmi, whom she had married for 17 years always molest her whenever he was drunk.

“Whenever my husband comes home drunk, he will force himself on me and make love to me in the presence of our children.

“He will beat me and make love to me by force while the children watch us.

“There was a day I came back from work and I met my children, one on top of  the other doing what they always see their father do to me,’’ she further told the court.

The petitioner also said her husband always threaten to kill her.

“My husband derives pleasure in beating me. There was a day he beat me and broke my leg.

“One day, he threatened to kill me, so I ran to my sister’s house.

“My husband came there, he met my brother in-law ironing his clothes; he snatched the iron from him and chased me with it.

“I ran into the street and he kept running after me with the pressing iron.

“Anytime, I reported him at the police station, the police will tell me it is a family matter and will never caution him.’’

The plaintiff described the defendant as an irresponsible husband and father, who did not care about the welfare and education of their children.

According to her, Olasunkanmi neither cares for her nor the children. She added that she was the one paying the children’s school fees.

“He has a tricycle he is using for business, but he always use the proceeds to drink to stupor and usually loses self control.’’

She begged the court to dissolve their marriage, adding that she was no longer in love with the husband.

Olasunkanmi did not deny the allegations leveled against him by his wife, but begged the court not to dissolve their union.

“Please, do not dissolve our marriage. I still love my wife, I know I have made a mistake; I will make amend,’’ he said.

The 42-year-old commercial tricycle operator admitted that he used to beat his wife, whenever she flouted his orders.

“I don’t derive pleasure in beating her, but I only beat her whenever she disobeys me.

“The day I snatched the pressing iron from my in-law, I only wanted to use the wire to beat her and not to burn her.’’

He stated that he drank moderately  and never got drunk.

The court president,  Mr Adegboyega Omilola, ordered the couple to come along with three members of their families for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).

The case was adjourned May 9 for further hearing.