“My marriage to my husband is blessed with three children whom I had through cesarean operation. I landed in the hospital three months after we had our first child, after my husband descended on me with heavy punches and almost killed me. I walked out of our marriage when I could no longer endure his deadly blows.”
This was part of the evidence given by a woman, Mariam Idris, against her husband, Lekan Idris, whom she accused of being a brute.
The plaintiff explained that there were times he tore her clothes to shreds under the stare of neighbours after beating her blue black.
Mariam, in addition, said Lekan lacked a sense of responsibility.
According to her, it was her parents that paid the hospital bills when she had their second and third children.
The plaintiff told the court that her husband still came to her shop to fight her after she moved out of his house which made her to report him at the police station.
Mariam said she was tired of her husband’s misbehaviour and therefore prayed the court to end their relationship.
She further pleaded for custody of their children, but begged that her husband be made responsible for their upkeep.
She also entreated the court to restrict her husband from threatening, fighting and interfering with her private life.
Lekan pleaded not liable to the charges brought against him.
Mariam in her evidence said, “My husband and I held a wedding ceremony and he paid my bride price, but he gave me hell when we started living together.
“I bore him three children which I had through cesarean operation, but my husband despite being mindful of the state of my health never stopped beating me.
“I could have been dead and forgotten by now as a result of the heavy punches my husband dealt me three months after I had our first child.
“He punched me so much that I landed in the hospital and was put on admission.
“Lekan not only beat me, but also humiliated me by tearing my clothes to pieces not minding that our neighbours were around, watching.
“I initially kept his maltreatment of me away from my family members and friends, but later confided in my mother who admonished that I endure.
“I did for a while, but I was dying gradually within me. I later cried out when the pain and trauma became unbearable.
“My parents paid the hospital bills when I had our second and third children because my husband intentionally made himself unavailable.
“He never cared about our children’s welfare and hardly gave them the necessary attention.
“I moved out of his house when I could no longer endure his deadly blows, but he still refused that I had rest of mind.
“He now comes to my shop to fight me and disrupt my activities.
“I reported him at the police station the last time he did.
“He has not given our children feeding allowance since I left him, while he has also refused to pay our last child’s school fees.
“My husband has dealt with me ruthlessly. I pray that you end our relationship and grant me custody of our children.
“I also beg the court to mandate him to be in charge of our children’s feeding, education and health care.
“My lord, I further entreat the court to restrict him from threatening, fighting and interfering with my private life.”
The court president, Mrs S.M Akintayo adjourned the case.
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