She enrolled our children in an expensive school —Husband
A woman, Alice, has dragged her husband, Ayobami, before Grade A Customary Court sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, on the account of irreconcilable differences.
Alice alleged that Ayobami was not caring and loving and added that he was adulterous and that he later took to threatening her.
Alice told the court when the matter came up for hearing that her marriage to Ayobami started experiencing crisis after he insisted that she abort her second pregnancy and she refused.
She explained that her husband became irresponsible and refused to attend to her needs and that of their children.
The plaintiff added that the defendant abandoned her and their children in their rented apartment and refused to renew the rent when it was due.
Alice added in her testimony that Ayobami neglected her welfare and that of their children, and shifted his attention to his new wife, whom he lavished money and attention on.
According to Alice, Ayobami later took to threatening her life.
She, therefore, prayed the court to rule that they go their different ways.
Alice, in addition, pleaded for their children’s custody, while she also begged that her husband be made responsible for their upkeep.
She demanded the sum of N40,000 every month as allowance for their welfare.
The plaintiff further sought an order restraining the defendant from threatening and encroaching on her private life.
Ayobami agreed to divorce, stating that Alice always came to his shop to fight and embarrass him.
He refused that his wife have custody of their children.
The defendant stated that he could not afford more than N20,000 per month for their upkeep.
Alice, in her testimony, said: “My husband and I met in 2019, and we went into a relationship. He impregnated me while we were courting, and I moved in with him.
“We did not hold a wedding ceremony, nor did he pay my bride price. We had a smooth relationship, and our marriage was filled with bliss.
“But all these stopped immediately I became pregnant with our second child.
“My husband found the news of an addition to the member of the family unwelcoming and therefore, ordered that I abort the pregnancy.
“I refused to heed his request, and hell was let loose. The more I made him to see reason, the more adamant he became.
“My once-loving husband became intolerant and distant.
“He stopped carrying out his responsibilities towards me and our child.
“He refused to provide for my antenatal care and did not give me a dime to purchase items that our baby would need.
“My husband later abandoned me despite being heavily pregnant, and our child in the rented apartment we were living.
“He refused to renew the rent when it was due, and I had to move to my mother’s house.
“He still continued to shirk his responsibilities towards me and our child while I was staying with my mother.
“He later started giving us a meagre N10,000 per month after I was delivered of our baby.
“My husband took another wife who bore him children. He lavishes love and money on this woman and her children while he leaves me and our children to starve.
“He later took to raining curses on me and threatening me any time I demanded that he should be up to his responsibilities towards our children.
“He threatened that no man would ever ask for my hand in marriage.
“He added that I would die if I got pregnant for another man.
“My lord, I desire to move on with my life.
“I, therefore, plead that our marriage be dissolved.
“I plead for our children’s custody while my husband is mandated to be responsible for their upkeep.
“I beg the court to rule that he gives our children N40,000 per month as allowance for their upkeep.
“I further request an order restraining him from threatening and encroaching on my privacy.”
Ayobami responded thus: “My lord, I agree that we go our different ways.
“It is true we carried out none of the marital rites. Neither did I pay her bride price.
“My lord, my wife enrolled our children in a school with fees that are too exorbitant.
“The best I can do is to be responsible for the payment of the fees of one of our children, while my wife pays that of the other.
“I cannot afford more than N20,000 monthly for our children’s upkeep.”
Ruling after she had heard both parties, the court president, Mrs O.E. Owoseni, stated that both never contracted any form of marriage, and no bride price was paid.
According to her, they were not married but were just cohabiting.
Owoseni thus ordered that both of them should go their different ways.
She restrained the defendant from threatening and meddling in the private affairs of the plaintiff.
Owoseni further restrained the plaintiff from going to the defendant’s workplace or anywhere around him in order to maintain peace and order.
She put their children in the plaintiff’s custody and ordered the defendant to pay N30,000 per month for their children’s maintenance.