A 70-year-old man, Omodele, has dragged his wife, Irede, before the Grade A Customary Court sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, seeking the dissolution of their marriage.
Omodele accused his wife of being troublesome, violent and destructive, alleging that her conduct had caused disaffection within his family and subjected him to public humiliation.
He also accused her of alleging that he was sexually incapable, reports Saturday Tribune.
The plaintiff described Irede as uncouth and a nightmare to live with, claiming that nothing he did pleased her and that she was constantly angry and eager to pick fights.
Omodele further alleged that his wife had threatened him with a knife on two occasions during confrontations, adding that he had become so afraid of her violent nature that he now slept with one eye open.
He told the court that Irede fought him during his 70th birthday celebration, tore his clothes and destroyed his birthday cake.
According to him, his wife had also embarrassed him before neighbours and relatives by claiming that he was sexually inadequate.
Omodele said he had endured enough humiliation and threats to his life and could no longer tolerate the situation.
He, therefore, prayed the court to dissolve their marriage and restrain Irede from threatening him or infringing on his privacy.
Irede consented to the dissolution of the marriage, but alleged that she had also suffered greatly at the hands of her husband.
She accused Omodele of neglecting her and their children, failing to provide adequate financial support and physically assaulting her.
According to Irede, her husband was morally bankrupt despite his advanced age.
She alleged that she caught him exchanging nude pictures with a woman he met on Facebook.
Testifying before the court, Omodele said: “My wife and I have been married for almost 30 years, but these years have been filled with pain and regret.
“Irede conducts herself in an uncouth manner. She is rude and always ready to pick fights.
“She also shouts me down during disagreements and insists on having her way.
“Irede is violent and uncontrollable.
“She has drawn a knife on me twice during our arguments.
“I would have been a dead man by now but for the timely intervention of our neighbours.
“I reported her to the police, but she bragged that she would do something worse.
“I sleep with one eye open because I fear she could stab me to death in my sleep.
“My wife has become a thorn in the flesh of everyone who interacts with her.
“She has succeeded in tearing my family apart by turning one member against the other.
“Irede engaged me in a fight during my 70th birthday celebration and turned the joyous event into a nightmare.
“She tore my beautiful and expensive attire to shreds and ruined my cake.
“My wife never stops humiliating me.
“She tells anyone who cares to listen that I am sexually inadequate, which is a lie.
“Even at 70 years of age, I remain strong and capable in bed.
“My lord, I have endured my wife’s behaviour long enough.
“I pray this honourable court to dissolve our marriage.”
Irede, responding, said: “My husband has been irresponsible since the outset of our marriage. He neither carried out the necessary marital rites nor paid my bride price.
“He rented a house for me because he already had a wife.
He did not make himself available when I had our first child. He surfaced five days after I put to bed.
“My husband does not give me and our children feeding allowance.
“The only time he did was between February last year and May, when he gave us N120,000 per month.
“He is a brute and regularly dealt me blows when fighting me.
“He beat me to a pulp in the presence of our guests during his 70th birthday celebration.
“I retaliated by tearing his new attire sewn for the occasion and ruined his birthday cake.
“My husband, at his age, is morally bankrupt.
“I caught him exchanging nude pictures with a lady he met on Facebook.
“He later gave this lady my name, and that of our children and my mother, for diabolic means.
“My lord, I am through with the relationship with my husband.
“I give my consent to the dissolution of our marriage.
“I implore the court to grant me custody of our children, but make my husband responsible for their upkeep.”
The court president, Mrs S.M. Akintayo, subsequently adjourned the case for further hearing.
