“She changed her religion without my consent and now fills our home with water and different kinds of candles which she uses for prayers. My lord, I’m tired of the smoke coming from the candle and the smell because they hamper my health. Most importantly, I don’t want the fire from her candles to raze down my house.”
“He can’t stop me from going to church because that’s where I get succor from since he behaves as if our children and I do not exist.”
Oja Oba/Mapo Court C Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State had listened to the evidence brought before it by a couple, Azeez Muritala and Ramota Muritala.
Azeez who dragged his wife to court, sought for divorce on the accounts of stubbornness and disobedience by the latter. He added that she changed from being a Muslim to a Christian and started attending church.
The plaintiff further said that his health was gradually deteriorating as a result of the different candles his wife was using in praying which constantly produce smoke and irritating smell.
According to Azeez, he had warned his wife to desist from attending church services but that she had remained adamant. He further added that he reported her to her parents who spoke to her, but that their counsel fell on deaf ears.
Azeez thus told the court that he decided to seek for divorce because he had reached his tether end.
Ramota agreed to divorce when the claims were read to her but refuted all that her husband said except his claim that she refused to stop attending church services.
According to the defendant, she attended church through her husband’s consent.
“I have never met anyone as stubborn as my wife. She hates to be corrected and is always insisting on having her way.
“Our marriage has been going through crisis because of her unruly behaviour and it was obvious she was not ready to change.
“My lord, I’m a Muslim and one of my considerations for marrying her was that she was a Muslim. But to my surprise, few years into our marriage, she stopped attending mosque and became a staunch member of a church in our neighbourhood.
“I expressed my disapproval towards this development but she refused to give heed to my warning, “he stated.
“My lord, the most irritating thing with her practice of this religion is that she never ceases to fill our house with water and different kinds of candles with which she prays with everyday.
“These candles when lit bring out smoke and smell which affect my health. I have complained to her about this but she has refused to change.
“My lord, my concern now is that of my house which I fear she can raze down if a candle stick mistakenly falls down and its flame ignites other items near it.
“I reported her to her parents and they counseled her but she turned deaf ears to them, ”he added.
“One other reason I’ve dragged her to court is that she has turned our children against me. Despite all the efforts I made at taking good care of them, she has consistently put a strain in the relationship between me and these children. I know little or nothing about them as of today.
“We had a hot argument recently which resulted in a fight. She moved out of my house after this, “the plaintiff told the court.
“My lord, he’s a liar. I did not leave his house out of my own volition, he was the one who threw my belongings out, “Ramota stated.
“I agree to divorce because he’s always on my neck. I do my best to keep the home and make him happy but all I get in return is complaint and beatings.
“He stated that I turned our children against him, but I want the court to ask him what tangible role he played in their lives. I was the one responsible for their welfare and education till they could all stand on their own.
“He gave me his consent to attend church service; I was therefore surprised at his complaint.
“It is true I refused to stop attending the services when he asked me to. I find succor in the church since he behaves as if our children and I do not exist, “she concluded.
Ruling after listening to the evidence of both parties, the court president, Chief Ademola Odunade dissolved their union.
and then