My wife is fetish and demonic —Husband •He is stubborn, rude and has no respect for me —Wife

43-year-old Oluwaseyi Ogungbe has urged an Agege Customary Court, Lagos,to dissolve his 15-year-old loveless marriage.

Oluwaseyi, who hails from Ijebu in Ogun State, told the court that there was no more love between him and the wife, Ruth Ogungbe, calling her a witch.

The father of three, who resides at Ojodu-Berger area of Lagos, said: “My wife is fetish and demonic, she no longer cares for me and our children.

“She laced my food with poison which her friend who is our neighbour gave her.”

The petitioner claimed that his pastor told him that his wife was a witch and had held him captive and made him not to be successful in life.

He said: “My wife wants to turn me to a puppet and slave. She is wicked. I want the court to separate us as I am no longer interested in the union; I want to live comfortably and in peace.”

Oluwaseyi, however, asked the court to award the custody of their children to him.

The respondent, Ruth, from Ekpoma in Edo State, however, denied the allegations, describing her husband as irresponsible and lazy.

“My husband is stubborn, rude and has no respect for me as his wife.”

The 38-year-old wife, who hawks herbal medicine, however, told the court: “I still love him, I do not want the marriage

dissolved.

“I do not want to end the marriage because of the love l have for my children, l do not want them to grow up in a separated home.”

She urged the court to help her resolve the issues between her and the husband.

Ruth described her husband as ”confused, who does not know what he wants,” adding that he had stopped catering for her and the children.

The court’s president, Mrs Ibironke Elabor, advised the estranged couple to keep the peace and adjourned the case to May 24 for continuation of trial.