He starves our children, beat, strip me naked even in public —Wife

Oja Oba/Mapo  Grade C  Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo  State, listened to a suit brought before it  by  a woman, Sekinat Adeleke against her husband, Muyideen Adeleke.

Sekinat alleged that her husband always sought  every opportunity  to fight and beat her. According to her, this could be at home, in the market place, in the midst of her friends or anywhere at all. She added that when he did, he would tear off her clothes and destroy her property.

She further stated that the defendant was irresponsible and had abandoned his responsibility of taking care of the family, most especially the children.

“All I request from the court is that it dissolves our marriage, grant me custody of our four children and mandate my husband to take up the responsibility of providing  the children’s needs as it is expected of him,  Sekinat stated.

“I’ve had enough of my husband’s beatings. We have been married for 20 years and the experience has been hell. He doesn’t waste any opportunity at hitting me and when he does, he will injure me. I spend my meagre income seeking medical attention on regular basis  which tells on my purse.

“He has no shame and beats me wherever he finds me; be it at home, in the market place or even when I am with friends.

“He’s also fond of tearing off my clothes and leaving me stark naked when we fight. He doesn’t stop at this, he will likewise smash my things on the floor thus breaking or damaging them, “she said.

“Our children no longer see him as a responsible father because he has failed in that regards. He is not bothered if they eat or go to school.

“I left his home and took my children along when I couldn’t put up with his beatings any longer.

“My aunty, seeing how I was struggling to take care of the children, came to my rescue. She took up the responsibility of looking  after one of them.

“If I continue in this marriage, I will soon die.  I plead that you heed my prayer of divorce, “she stated.

The respondent agreed to a divorce  but  expressed doubt on the paternity of the children.

“My wife’s decision to dissolve our marriage is welcome, “he said.

“I’m wary of a wife who is promiscuous because she can kill.

“It is true that I’m a man around town but my wife who is supposed to sit and mind the home has turned herself into a street girl.

“I have caught her on many occasions with her lovers, but forgave her because of the children.

“There was a day a man dropped her in front of our home  early in the morning. She left home the previous day stating that she wanted to see her sister but failed to come back that day. She never expected that I would be outside the house at such an early hour.

“I asked who the man was and she replied he was her friend’s husband. According to her, she met him on her way home and he offered to give her a lift.

“At another time she left home to meet one of her lovers. I was at a bar drinking when one of my friends called my attention to my wife who was standing  by the road side.  She had her back towards me and  was watching every car that was driving by.

“She didn’t know I was nearby. I called her on the phone and asked where she was and she mentioned another place entirely.

“I got up and walked towards her. A car suddenly stopped by her and she jumped in. I held the door of the car before she could close it. She was shocked. I dragged her down and beat the hell out of her while the driver of the car drove off.

“My lord, the paternity of our children is in doubt. I can’t boast of being the father of our four children because my wife is a slot and I don’t trust her, “the defendant stated.

The court president, Chief Ademola Odunlade,  observed that the relationship of the duo had broken  down irreconcilably.

He, thus ruled that their marriage be dissolved and ordered the defendant to pay N5,000 monthly as their  last child, a four-year-old  food allowance. He is also to be responsible for his health care.