Oja Oba/ Mapo Court C Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, recently dissolved the wedlock between a couple, Tawakalitu Adesina and Dehinde Adesina.
Tawakalitu who dragged her husband to court, alleged that he shelved his responsibility towards her and their children.
The plaintiff explained that she had consistently bore the responsibility of feeding and clothing her family.
She further stated that her husband neglected their children’s education and that she took up the challenge of sending them to school because she desired that they had formal education.
According to Tawakalitu, Dehinde took to coming home at will and that he later abandoned her and their children and moved in with another woman.
The plaintiff told the court that she had stood in as both mother and father for their children since her husband deserted them.
Tawakalitu stated she came to court that it might officially dissolve her union to Dehinde because she was tired of living under the illusion that their marriage still existed.
The defendant refused to come to court despite being served court summonses.
Tawakalitu giving her testimony said: “My lord, I will be deceiving myself if I say that the union between me and my husband still holds.
“Dehinde abandoned me and our children. He left home and went after another woman he is now living with.
“I have never enjoyed my marriage to my husband because he failed to be a good husband to me.
“I put in all I could to ensure that our marriage worked, but my husband did all in his power to frustrate me.
“Dehinde abandoned his duties in the home and refused to be committed to me and our children.
“My lord, I took up the challenge of looking after the welfare of my family early in our marriage.
“I learnt to feed many mouths and cloth all because my husband cared less if we lived or not.
“Dehinde regularly dodged the payment of our children’s school fees and constantly subjected them to ridicule in school. I deprived myself of some pleasures and took up the responsibility of paying our children’s fees so as to save them the embarrassment of being sent out of school.
“My lord, my husband suddenly took to coming home late. The more I complained about this irresponsible act, the worse he became.
“Dehinde’s behaviour took another turn when he started coming home at will. There were times he didn’t come home more than twice in a week.
“He finally abandoned me and our children and moved in with another woman.
“We have waited for him to come back home but our hope has been dashed.
“I now play the dual role of father and mother to our children.
“My lord, I have been under the illusion for long that our marriage still exists but I have now woken up to face the reality that our union has hit the rock which was my reason for coming to court.
“My lord, I earnestly pray this honourable court to dissolve our union and grant me custody of our children,” the plaintiff said.
Giving his judgment, the court president, Chief Ademola Odunade, stated that it was obvious the that the defendant was no longer interested in his marriage to the plaintiff since he refused to acknowledge the summonses he was served.
Ruling, Odunade dissolved their marriage and granted the plaintiff custody of their children.
The defendant was ordered to be responsible for their education, health care and general upkeep.
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