Grade A Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State has ruled on a divorce suit brought before it by a woman, Latifat Kekereekun, against her husband, Victor Kekereekun, whom she accused of not loving and caring for her.
She also stated that he was always threatening her and refused that she had rest of mind.
The plaintiff added that their union was blessed with a child who unfortunately died.
Latifat explained that Victor made her life miserable after they lost their only child and could not have another one.
According to her, she moved out of her matrimonial home so that she could have live in peace, but that her husband refused to let her be.
She told the court that he still came to her place to threaten her.
The plaintiff thus prayed the court for the dissolution of their marriage and an order restraining him from threatening or interfering with her private life.
Victor never appeared in court despite being served hearing notices in respect of the suit.
The plaintiff explained in her evidence thus: “My husband and I lived together for 12 years before I moved out of his house.
“We never held any wedding ceremony and he did not pay my bride price.
“I walked out of our marriage when I could no longer bear with my husband’s maltreatment of me.
“Victor is a brute. He started beating me from the outset of our marriage and almost snuffed life out of me.
“It is obvious that my husband does not love me. If I had known this while we were dating, I would not have gone into marriage with him.
“Victor never gave me attention and we hardly ever shared moments of intimacy.
“My husband is selfish. He focused more on himself and cared less about my needs.
“He frustrated all my efforts at making our home a haven. It was therefore always too cold for comfort.
“The only comfort I had in our marriage was our child, whom I poured all my love on.
“Unfortunately, we lost this only child of ours. I became devastated after this.
“Victor was obviously distraught to offer any comfort.
“My husband became crueler after the death of our son.
“He beat me the more and also threatened to kill me any time we had an argument.
“He neither gave me feeding allowance nor took up any responsibility in the home.
“He did all in his power to make our home inhabitable for me.
“I neither had peace nor rest of mind which informed my decision to move out of his house.
“Victor still refused to stop threatening me after I started living separately from him.
“He now comes to my new abode to fight me, while he sometimes swears not to relent until he kills me.
“My lord, I came to court because I was afraid he could make real his threat.
“I, therefore, appeal to this court to dissolve our marriage and restrain my husband from threatening and making life unbearable for me.”
Giving judgment after she had heard the plaintiff, the court president, Mrs S.M Akintayo, stated that the defendant’s constant absence in court showed he was not interested in saving his marriage.
According to her, there was no marriage to be dissolved since no customary wedding held between them and no bride price was paid.
Akintayo in her ruling restrained the defendant from threatening or interfering with the plaintiff’s private life.
A copy of the judgment was asked to be served the defendant.
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