He neglects me and the children for his family —Wife

A 48-year-old man, Ikechukwu Oshomagbe, has lost his 19-year-old marriage to his wife, Ejiro, over his inability to take decision on his own.

President of the court, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, in his judgement, said that it was obvious from available testimony and the respondent’s refusal to appear in court that the marriage had hit the rocks.

“Throughout the duration of this case, the respondent refused to honour court processes.

“Since the petitioner had produced the affidavit of service to prove the respondent’s absent, the court had no other choice but to dissolve the marriage.

“The court pronounces the marriage between Ejiro Oshomogbe and Ikechukwu Oshomagbe is hereby dissolved from today, both parties henceforth cease to be husband and wife.

“Both parties are free to marry any partner of their choice, without any hindrances and molestation,” Omilola said.

Earlier, the petitioner, Ejiro, 45, trader, had urged the court to dissolve her marriage to Ikechukwu, because his extended family controlled her home.

“My husband could not take decisions on his own, his mother and his six brothers were controlling our home.

“If we discussed anything, my husband would first go to his family to consult with them, what they said would be my husband’s final decision.

“I am just like a maid, my decision is always rejected. In fact, I don’t have a say in my matrimonial home,” she said.

Ejiro also told the court that her husband was a drunk.

“My husband always spent his salary with his brothers at a beer parlour and after drinking to stupor, he would be staggering and falling into the gutter.

“He urinated and messed up everywhere in our flat whenever he is drunk and most times, he beat me without reason,” the estranged wife alleged.

The mother of two accused her husband, who failed to appear in court after receiving several summons, of being an irresponsible husband and father.

“When my daughter fainted when she had fever, I called my husband to come home so that we could take her to the hospital, he said that he was in a beer joint and that he could not come.

“He did not sleep at home most times as he stays with his brothers or mother, he always told me that nothing could separate him and his family.

“He is so attached to his family, he constantly met their needs, wants, feelings, he always supported them financially and was not willing to spend anything toward our upkeep.

“I paid the house rent and the children’s school fees because my husband refused to pay,” she said.

Ejiro claimed that her husband asked her to go to his village for spiritual cleansing.

“My husband is forcing me to go to his village for cleansing; I didn’t just understand what the cleansing was all about.

“Two of my husband’s elder brothers’ wives have gone to the village for cleansing, they died few days after returning to Lagos.

“I am afraid because I didn’t want to die now,” she said.

The petitioner presented a text message sent to her by her husband that she should go to his village for cleansing and that he would not appear in court for any dissolution.