A pensioner, Jacob Ogundijo has told a Customary Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, he is no longer interested in his 31-year-old marriage to his wife, Sarat Ogundejo, a trader.
Jacob told the court, Sarat was diabolical, lacked human feeling and fond of cursing him and their children.
He thus pleaded with the court to dissolve their union and order her never to come near him or his property.
Jacob stated that:”I got married to my wife on September 3, 1986 and our marriage is blessed with three children.
“My wife pretended all the time we were courting that she was a virtuous woman and I was glad I made a right choice, but time proved me wrong.
“She began to show her true colour after we got married.
“My wife, aside from being troublesome, is disobedient. She has no regards for me and willingly flouts my orders.
“Before I say a word, she has said ten. And any time we have misunderstanding, she will talk and sing in proverbs, passing uncomplimentary comments at me.”
“It is often said that women are closer to their children and that they are their models, but my wife is an exception.
“She lacks all the attributes you find in a mother.
“She wakes the children up in the morning with the cane while she bids them goodnight with a curse.
“What my wife loves to do is shout, fight and curse.
“She once accused our children of stealing her money and brought out a fetish object which she used in cursing them.
“The children told me when I returned home; I asked her, but she denied ever doing so. I later found the fetish object where she hid it. It was scary. I’m sure her plan was to kill me and our children. She told me the object was not meant to cause any harm, but to protect her, “he added.
“We lost one of our children due to her uncaring nature. She felt unconcerned about his condition while he was in the hospital. And even when he died, she displayed no emotions.
“She repeated this when I was sick. She locked me up in the room. I got up to ease myself and discovered she had locked the door. In my weak state I banged the door and shouted her name, but there was no response. She came back home hours later.
“She also refused to cook for me all through the time I was sick.”
“My lord, I’m fed up with my wife, our relationship has gone sour, please separate us.
“I don’t agree to his prayer of divorce, Sarat told the court. All he has said are lies. He wants me out of his home so that he can take another wife.”
“Again, our daughter is yet to be married; I won’t allow another woman play the role of mother in my stead.
“I am not diabolical and he never found any fetish object on me. I love my children and so can never curse them.
“I took care of our child while in hospital. If my husband wants to be fair with me he would confirm that I once had an accident when taking food to him in the hospital.
“He said that I locked him in when he was sick. He’s full of lies. He was aware that the door was bad.
“Our family members have mediated in our issue, but he has been adamant and has insisted on divorce. He is insisting on divorcing me after being married to him for 31 years and when we have started giving our children out in marriage. It’s only a shameless person that can take this step, “she said.
The court president, Chief Agbaje Olasunkanmi, having listened to the couple adjourned their case till June 19 and ordered the duo to come with their children and relatives.
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