‘I regard my husband as dead ’cos he has failed in his responsibilities’

A woman, Bunmi Ayodele has prayed Oja Oba/Mapo Court C Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, to dissolve her 16-year-old marriage to her husband, Makinwa Ayodele.

Bunmi  had sought for divorce on the grounds that her husband was irresponsible and  cares less about her welfare and that of their children.

She added that he was a drunk and beat her on a regular basis.

She prayed the court if her prayer of divorce was granted to award her custody of their four children and restrain her husband from coming to her house or shop to harass or fight her.

Makinwa did not agree to his wife’s plea for divorce.

The plaintiff stated thus in court.

“My lord, it is true that my husband is alive, but I regard him as dead because his presence is not felt in the home. He has simply failed to live up to his responsibilities.

“He’s indifferent to our needs and not bothered about our welfare.

“I now play the role of father and mother in the home.

“I single handedly feed, clothe and train our children in school.

“Any time the children ask him for their needs, he will tell to ask me.

“My husband is always complaining of paucity of fund, but he has money to drink.

“He drinks himself to stupor and beats me blue black when he’s back home.

“I’ve moved out of his house on many occasions after he had beaten me, but would move back after my parent’s intervention.

“I have stayed in his house this long because my mother in particular had always told me to persevere.

“My lord, I have bore enough with his irresponsible acts. I don’t want him to kill me, “Bunmi told the court.

“There was never a time I sent her out my house. She moves out and comes back out of her own volition.

“Any time she moves back to my house, I accept her with an open hand.

“She lied that I don’t take care of the home and pay our children’s school fees.  I would rather die of hunger  than see my children being sent home from school for owing school fees.”

The court president, Chief Ademola Odunade asked how much he was paying on each child as fees and he went blank.

Ruling, Odunade dissolved the union and awarded custody of the children to the plaintiff.

The defendant was mandated to pay N10, 000 monthly as the children’s monthly feeding allowance and  be responsible for their education and health care.