‘My husband chased me with a stick, threatened to break my head for taking his N1, 500’

A woman, Balikit Lateef, has brought a divorce suit against her husband, Ahmed Lateef at the Oja Oba/Mapo Court C Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Balikit, in her suit, stated that her husband was irresponsible and not interested in her welfare and that of their five children. He thus prayed the court to terminate their 18-year-old relationship and grant her custody of their five children.

“My 18-year-old marriage has been uninteresting and not romantic all because of my husband’s unloving attitude towards me and our children.

“He prefers to be in the company of his friends than stay at home and spend quality time with me and the children.

“My husband is not interested in my welfare; he gives me no attention any time I’m sick and doesn’t care if I live or die.

“He’s not generous with his money. He once kept N10, 000 with me and I borrowed N1, 500 from it to feed our children and meet some other needs in the home since he has abandoned his responsibilities. He went mad and reported me to our landlord’s wife. Not yet satisfied, he chased me all over the neighbourhood with a stick, threatening to break my head with it.

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“I left his house and moved to my parents place in Oyo when I took ill and he gave me no attention. He never called on the phone to ask after my health or come to visit me.

“My lord, he has never been interested in our children’s education. I withdrew them from the private school they were attending to a public school because I couldn’t cope with the high fees.

“Today, our first child is learning a trade because there is no money to send her to school.

“I decided to come to court so that it will awaken him to his responsibilities   as husband and father. On hearing that I’ve come to court, he beat the hell out of me, “she told the court.

The defendant was absent in court after been served a court summon and hearing.

Giving his judgment after he had listened to the plaintiff’s evidence, the court president, Chief Ademola Odunade stated that it was obvious that there was no more love in their marriage. He added that the defendant’s refusal to come to court showed he was not ready to save his marriage.

Ruling, he dissolved their union and granted custody of their five children to the plaintiff.

The defendant was mandated to pay N15, 000 monthly as their children’s feeding allowance and be responsible for their education and health care.

He was also ordered to pay the sum of N3, 000  to the plaintiff to pack her belongings from his house and give her another N12,000 as one-year house rent for a new apartment.