‘I built her parents a house but she deserted me when I took ill’

A 60-year-old businessman, Mr Friday Maleghemi, and one of his wives, Victoria,  prayed   an Igando Customary Court in Lagos State , to dissolve their  28-year-old marriage.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the couple  told the court separately that they were not interested in their union which had been laced with mutual suspicions and which had not produced any child.

Friday, while responding to a divorce suit filed by Victoria, said that Victoria had refused to follow him to his village to swear an oath over his ill health.

Friday also told the court that he suspected Victoria to be responsible for his current predicament.

“My other wives except Victoria agreed to follow me to my village.

“Instead, of going to the village with me, she packed out of our matrimonial home in 2014.

“She then called me from where I was receiving treatment that she was no longer interested in the marriage.’’

The respondent accused his wife of being an ingrate having forgotten that he built a house for her parents in her village when he was hale and hearty.

He urged the court to grant the wish of his wife because he was also  no longer interested in the marriage.

Earlier, Mrs Victoria Maleghemi stated that she approach the court to end their  28-year-old marriage because her husband sent her packing from their matrimonial home.

She told the court that her husband initially told her to leave the house for two weeks to allow some diviners sanctify it.

“When my husband was sick, he asked me to leave the house that some people wanted to sanctify it and that he would ask me to return after the cleansing.

“I complied but after two weeks he did not call me. I came home only to discover that he had changed the keys to the doors.

“When I called him, he told me that he was no longer interested in our marriage.’’

The 49-year-old trader said that she refused to follow her husband to his village for oath taking because she had been warned by her pastor not to travel.

“I received a message from my pastor not to embark on any journey or swear any oath. That was why I refused to go with him to his village,’’ she said.

Victoria begged the court to dissolve the marriage; saying it had not produced any children.

“Please, my lord,, dissolve this union which has not produced any fruit,” she pleaded with the court.

The president of the court, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, after listening to the couple adjourned the case till July 4 for judgment.