‘My pastor-husband deserted home, refused to call, visit me, our sickle cell child’

‘MY pastor-husband deserted home, refused to call, visit me, our child, who has sickle cell (SS), when in town’

Grade A Customary Court, Court 2, sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has ruled on a divorce suit brought before it by a woman, Ifeoluwa, against her husband, Gabriel, whom she accused of lack of love, irresponsibility and abandonment.

Ifeoluwa stated that Gabriel, a prophet, left home for Lagos when their child was two months old with the excuse that he wanted to carry out his ministerial work there.

According to Ifeoluwa, Gabriel was initially shuttling between Lagos and Ibadan, but that he later stopped coming home or getting in touch with her.

The plaintiff added that the defendant refused to pay her and their child, who is a sickle cell (SS) patient visits whenever he travelled to town for their church programme.

She added that he snubbed her when they once met at a function.

Ifeoluwa further said that Gabriel sent only N2,000 to their child since he deserted home four years ago.

She stated that she wanted to put her marriage to Gabriel behind and start life afresh.

She, therefore, entreated the court to rule that they are no longer husband and wife.

The plaintiff pleaded for custody of their child and begged the court to mandate her husband to be responsible for his welfare, giving priority to his feeding, education, and health care.

Gabriel refused to make an appearance in court even though he was served court summonses.

Ifeoluwa, in her evidence said: “My husband is a prophet. We met, courted, and got married in April 2022.

“Our child was just two months old when he announced to me that he was relocating to Lagos for his ministerial work.

“Although I was not happy with his decision, he still left. My husband was initially shuttling between Lagos and Ibadan, but he suddenly stopped coming home.

“He abandoned me and our child, who is sickle cell patient and stopped communicating with me.

“He cared less about how our child and I were surviving.

“Even though he sometimes travelled down to Ibadan to attend programmes in his church, he never checked on us.

“I once met my husband at a function and he snubbed me.

“He was not bothered about our child’s welfare despite being aware of his health challenge.

“My husband sent N2, 000 only for our child’s upkeep since he left home four years ago.

“My lord, it is glaring that my husband no longer loves me. Neither is he still interested in our marriage. I can see that he is no longer interested in our marriage.

“I, therefore, pray that this honourable court put an end to our relationship.

“I plead for our child’s custody so that I can give him adequate attention.

“I further plead that the court orders my husband to be responsible for his upkeep, giving feeding, education, and health care a priority.

“I, hereby, demand for the sum of N100,000 for the maintenance of our child being a sickle cell patient.”

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The president of the court, Mrs O. E. Owoseni, gave her judgment, stating that there was no subsisting marriage to be dissolved because no customary marriage was contracted, and the bride price was not paid.

Owoseni further said that since Gabriel deserted home, and refused to communicate with her even when he saw her at a function, this according to her indicates that he is also no longer interested in their marriage.

She consequently ordered both parties to go their different ways.

Owoseni mandated the defendant to give their child N50,000 per month for his upkeep, considering the state of his health which requires utmost care.

She directed the defendant to pay adequate attention to their child’s feeding and education also.