A man, Mayowa, has approached Grade A Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, seeking that it put an end to the union between him and his wife, Goodness, on the grounds of irresponsibility, lack of respect, infidelity and constant fight.
He added that his wife was diabolic and that she aborted his plans of making a headway in life.
Mayowa said that his wife became rebellious after he empowered her and treated him with disdain.
He explained that he tolerated his wife for long because he was a minister of God and that much was expected from him.
The plaintiff mentioned some instances when the defendant humiliated him in the presence of their children because he was broke.
Mayowa stated Goodness once cooked food with her own money and that she spat on the ration their child served him out of the pot.
He also said that at another time, he held a three-day fast in preparation for a ministration he had in church.
According to him, he gave his wife N3,000 to prepare the food he would use in breaking the fast with, but that she collected the money but refused to prepare the food.
The plaintiff stated that he ministered for hours with an empty stomach.
Mayowa added further that Goodness once grinded bottles with the aim of pouring it into his food.
He also said that his wife being diabolic frustrated his plan and that of their only child to seek greener pastures.
He told the court his wife was promiscuous and that he knew three of her lovers.
According to the plaintiff, he moved out of his matrimonial home when he realised his life was no longer safe as a result of his wife’s atrocities.
He thus prayed the court to end their relationship.
Goodness denied all the allegations brought against her.
She told the court that her husband refused to attend the wedding of their only child.
She added that he accused her of killing her sister-in-law.
Mayowa, in his evidence, said “I got married to my wife in 1980, and I paid her bride price.
“My wife started misbehaving from the outset of our marriage; but as a minister of God, I learnt to tolerate her.
“My wife is promiscuous. She had an affair with three different men.
“I reported her to her aunt, who suggested I saw a prophet concerning the crises in our marriage.
“I initially refused, but my wife and later went with her.
“The man told my wife she had cheated on me and that she should beg me.
“I encouraged her to learn a trade. She learnt to weave clothes and I set her up in the business.
“I experienced a downturn in my business a few years after this, but my wife, rather than being supportive, became hostile to me.
“She cooked beans, and our son served me a ration from the pot.
“My wife, angry, collected the plate of beans from my son and spat on it.
“On another occasion, she made me preach on an empty stomach after I gave her money to prepare my food, having fasted for three days.
“We once had a misunderstanding, and she grounded bottles, threatening to pour it in my food.
“I moved out of our matrimonial home after this .
“She called to inform me that our child was getting married, but I refused to go because I feared she might poison me.
“My lord, my wife and I have been separated for over two decades. I do not want her to refer to me as her husband any longer
“I, therefore, pray this honourable court to dissolve our marriage. “
Goodness responding said, “My lord, I agree that you dissolve our marriage.
“I have lived successfully without my husband for more than two decades after he deserted me and our only child.
“I informed him of our son’s wedding, and he asked me if he was his father.
“I called him on the phone and pleaded with him to attend our son’s wedding, but he refused.
“He asked me if he was the father of our child and cut our conversation.
“He accused me of being diabolic and told my brother that I was the one who killed his wife.”
The court president, Mrs S.M Akintayo, adjourned the case for further hearing.
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