A man, Jamiu, has approached Grade A Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, seeking that an end be put to his 12-year-old wedlock to his wife, Sabitiu, on account of irresponsibility, lack of love, neglect, and denial of conjugal rights.
Jamia stated that Sabitiu’s behaviour changed towards him a few months after they got married, reports Saturday Tribune.
According to the plaintiff, his once loving and caring wife suddenly became cold and indifferent to his well-being and that of their children.
The plaintiff explained that the defendant stopped loving him, became defiant, and went out at will without his permission.
He added that she also stopped cooking his food.
Jamiu added that the worst of Sabitiu’s behaviour was that of starving him of sex which left him to burn for the past three years.
The plaintiff stated that he could no longer condone the defendant’s atrocities.
He, therefore, sought an order restricting her from threatening and interfering with his private life.
Sabitiu denied all the allegations brought against her by her husband, but agreed to divorce.
She told the court that her husband was irresponsible and loved to live above his means.
She added that he passed the buck of his responsibilities in the home to her.
Sabitiu added that she regularly met Jamiu’s sexual needs but that he was a womaniser and had an insatiable desire for sex.
According to Sabitu, Jamiu married three other women without her knowledge and flaunted the pictures of their wedding ceremonies to her.
Jamiu, in his testimony, said, “I got married to my wife 12 years ago, and I paid her bride price.
“She was caring and loving while we dated, which spurred my decision to marry her, but she suddenly changed after we got married.
“My wife stopped loving me and became emotionally detached.
“She refused to have sex with me and left me to burn for three years.
“We only had sex any time I forced my way through.
“Sabitiu became irresponsible and shunned her duties in the home.
“She regularly left the home unkempt and also stopped cooking my food.
“Worse still was her defiant attitude.
“She was in the habit of leaving the house without my permission and would return any time it pleased her.
“The more I complained, the more rebellious she became.
“I reported her to her relatives who counselled her, but she refused to change.
“I got fed up with her atrocities one day and ordered her to pack her belongings and leave my house, but she refused.
“I went ahead to disconnect the light in her room, but she remained unperturbed.
“She left only after I threw her belongings out of my apartment.
“My wife, not yet done, still came to my house and workplace to harass, threaten and fight me.
“My lord, I have tolerated my wife enough.
“I pray this honourable court to end our relationship and restain her from threatening and interfering with my private life.”
Sabitiu responded, “My husband is a liar.
“There is no truth in all that he has said.
“My lord, I agree that we go our different ways.
“I did all in my power to make our marriage work, but he never ceased to frustrate me.
“My husband loved to show off and therefore lived above his means.
“This negative attitude of his did tell on our purse and constantly led to a strain on our finances.
“He gradually handed off his responsibility in the home and passed the buck to me.
“I was almost crushed under the weight of those responsibilities.
“My husband is a womaniser.
“Despite all I did to meet his sexual needs, he still went along to marry three other women without my knowledge and flaunted the pictures of their wedding ceremonies at me.
“I refused to complain or fight him, and just remained calm.
“But to my chagrin, he threw me out after he married his third wife this year.
“My lord, I am also through with my husband.
“I agree to divorce.”
The president of the court, Mrs S.M. Akintayo, after she heard both parties adjourned the case until February 19, for judgment.
