My husband can’t father a child ‘cos he has low sperm count, woman tells court

A Pyakasa Customary Court in Lugbe, Abuja  has dissolved a seven-year-old marriage between one Nwanne Joy and her husband, James Valentine over desertion, assault and unwillingness to raise a family.

Delivering judgment, the court president, Chief Usman Ibrahim, held that the court had no other option than to dissolve the union because of Valentine’s unwillingness to defend his marriage.

”Since their relationship has been damaged due to constant assault, the seven-year-old union between Joy and Valentine ceases to be, in the interest of peaceful living.

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“Joy shall be issued a divorce certificate by the court and she is free to go and remarry,” he said.

He further said that since under Igbo custom, a woman is instructed to return the bride price if she wants a divorce, Joy is to return N10, 000 paid for her bride price to the respondent.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), earlier in her petition, Joy, a civil servant said that her husband’s constant assault, lying , inability to provide for her and get her pregnant  was unbearable.

“She said that after their wedding in December 2012, she was unable to conceive and the husband blamed her for their childless situation.

She also said that after various insults from the husband, she discovered that he was the reason for their childlessness because he had low sperm count.

Valentine however never appeared in court to defend his marriage after several hearing notices were served on him.