‘My once poor, loving husband started beating me when fortune smiled on him’

A woman, Modinat, has prayed Grade A Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, to dissolve her marriage to her husband, Muyideen, whom she accused of irresponsibility, battery and abandonment.

Modinat said that she agreed to marry Muyideen despite the fact that he was living from hand to mouth because he was loving and well-behaved.

She stated that Muyideen, to her chagrin, changed from being that doting husband to a brute and irresponsible fellow when fortune smiled on him.

According to the plaintiff, the defendant would beat and refused to let her go until she bled from wounds or she fainted.

Modinat added that Muyideen daily shirked his responsibility towards her and their children.

She, therefore, beseeched the court if her prayer was answered, to grant her custody of their two children, and make her husband bear the cost of their upkeep, giving feeding, education and health care a priority.

She further requested an order, restraining her husband from threatening and interfering with her private life.

Muyideen did not make an appearance in court despite being served court summonses.

Modinat, in her testimony, said, “My husband and I did not carry out any marital rite before we started living together because he was as poor as a church rat.

“He was living from hand to mouth and could not afford the demands of a traditional wedding including dowry.

“I was contented and not bothered about my husband’s financial status because he was caring and always doted on me.

“Our marriage was peaceful, and gradually, my husband began to experience a breakthrough in his business.

“My thinking was that we would start to live a decent life now that fortune has smiled on us, but this was not the case.

“My husband to my chagrin changed and became harsh and withdrawn.

“He was always finding fault in all that I did and raised his voice at me.

“Our child and I became ill at ease in the way we relate with him and did everything with extra care in order not to incur his wrath.

“Muyideen went further to beating me.

“He would beat me in the presence of our child and would refuse to release me until I bled.

“There were times he beat me till I fainted.

“I now have my vision impaired after he hit my eyes with his punches during an argument as we were about moving into our new house.

“He neglected my needs and that of our child despite being comfortable and refused us attention.

“I moved to my parents’ place after he totally abandoned me and our child. I was there for five years.

“He begged that I returned to him, and I did thinking he had changed, but the reverse was the case.

“He did not spare me his punches despite being pregnant with our second child.

“He once accused me of infidelity and beat me in my pregnant state till I fainted.

“My husband has refused to be committed to our children’s education.

“I have solely bore the responsibility of their training in school and also meet all of their other needs.

“I once got fed up with my husband’s thoughtless way of living and confronted him.

“He went wild, took a cutlass, and brandished it at me.

“I took to my heels, and he came after me.

“I ran out of our compound into the neighbourhood, and he still pursued after me. We were a scene to behold.

“I would have been a dead person by now if not for God.

“My lord, I have had enough of my husband’s harsh way of dealing with me and our children.

“I want divorce and freedom from him.

“I pray that our children be put in my care while my husband is made responsible for their upkeep, giving feeding, education, and health care a priority.

“I also plead for an order restraining him from threatening or interfering with my private life.

The court president, Mrs S.M Akintayo, after she had heard the plaintiff adjourned the case and ordered that a fresh hearing notice be issued and served the defendant.