Wife drags husband to court, says he constantly beats her, lacks respect for her parents

Onireke Grade C Customary Court, Ibadan North West Local Government, Ibadan, Oyo State, has ended the union between a couple, Mrs Bunmi Amusan and her husband, Olusegun Amusan.

Bunmi had brought a divorce claim against her husband on the grounds of disaster and lack of cooperation.

At the first hearing, the plaintiff was present in court while the defendant was not.

The defendant wrote a letter to the court president and members that he would not appear before the court. According to him, Onireke Customary Court, Dugbe, Ibadan, has no jurisdiction over the matter.

The court having carefully gone through the letter stated that it had jurisdiction to listen to any civil case as stated on Customary Court manual page 29 no 17.  It, therefore, adjourned the case and instructed that hearing notice be served on the defendant immediately.

On the adjourned date, the plaintiff appeared in court while the defendant was absent for the second time after being served a hearing notice.

Bunmi in her evidence told the court:”I married my husband in 2009 under the native law and custom and our marriage is blessed with four children.

“I seek for the dissolution of our marriage on the grounds of disaster and lack of cooperation.

“My husband has failed to take good care of me and our children.

“He beats me at the slightest opportunity no matter how mild our differences are.

“He also has no respect for my parents. He has always refused to acknowledge our parents’ request to mediate in our differences. All efforts made by both parties to settle our differences had always proved abortive.

“I reported him to the provost on May 13, we were asked to come back on May 17 and we did. After listening to us, he was ordered to take responsibility of our children’s upkeep but he declined.

“My lord, he has another wife who bore him two children. He got married to her before me.

“I’m fed up staying married to him. My life is not safe with him, please separate us, “she stated.

The court president, Pastor Ezekiel Oladele, after hearing her evidence, stated that the court believed the defendant had nothing to say  having refused to come to court after being served the civil summons and  hearing notice.

Oladele added that having gone through the plaintiff’s evidence, the court believed there was no more love between both parties.

Giving his judgment, Oladele dissolved their union and granted custody of their children to the plaintiff.

The defendant was ordered to pay the sum of N20, 000 monthly as their children’s feeding allowance.

He was also to be responsible for their education and health care. He added that the defendant should have access to their children with the consent of the plaintiff.

The copy of the judgment according to him, should be served the defendant immediately through his boss.