‘My ex-husband starved our children, said he was undergoing a course in school’

By Toluwani Olamitoke

A woman, Bimbo Akande has approached Grade A Customary Court, Ibadan, Oyo State, pleading that it enforced her ex-husband, Felix Olarenwaju to uphold the directive given by the Social Welfare Office with regards to the upkeep of their two children.

Bimbo told the court that Felix abandoned his responsibility towards their children after both of them went their separate ways in 2014.

She stated that his neglect of their children spurred her decision to drag him to the social welfare office where after several interventions, a verdict was given which directed Felix to give the two children N5, 000 every month for their upkeep and be responsible for their education and medical care.

Bimbo added that her ex-husband adhered to this order for a few months and then stopped.

According to the plaintiff, she has not received a dime from the defendant from February 2015 till date.

Bimbo further stated that Felix of late took to threatening her and requesting that she handed over their children to him because he now has a new wife who is capable of taking good care of them.

Felix refused to make an appearance in court after being served court summonses.

Bimbo in her testimony explained that, “My husband and I got married under the Islamic rite in 2012, but we stopped living together as husband and wife since 2014 after our relationship broke down irretrievably.

“Felix failed to live up to expectation with regards to our children’s welfare.

“He consistently shirked his responsibility towards them and deprived them the luxury of a good lifestyle.

“He never gave them feeding allowance and was indifferent to their education and health care.

“I took up the challenge of meeting our children’s needs, but my best was not enough.

“I thereafter reported him at the Social Welfare Office and he was invited to the office.

“After much interventions, he was mandated to give our children N5, 000 every month as feeding allowance.

“He was also asked to be responsible for their education and medical care.

“Felix adhered to this order for just eight months and stopped.

“I reported him to a cleric who was his counsel and he explained to me that Felix said he was undergoing a course and that he would be committed to our children when he was through.

“My lord, Felix has not given our children a dime till date.

“He of recent threatened to take our children away from me stating that he now has a new wife who is capable of looking after the children’s welfare.

“I pray this honourable court to rule that my ex-husband carry out the directive given by the Social Welfare Office.”

The court president, Mrs S.M Akintayo adjourned the case till April.

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