Grade A Customary Court, sitting in Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has dissolved the 11-year-old union between a couple, Moyosore and Olukayode, on the account of deceit, irresponsibility, lack of care, addiction to drugs, domestic violence and constant threat by the latter.
Moyosore, who dragged her husband, Olukayode to court stated that he married her by means of deceit, reports Saturday Tribune.
Moyosore explained that Olukayode told her when they met that he had a National Diploma Certificate, but that he confessed to her a week to their wedding that he was expelled from school for cultism.
The plaintiff further said that she discovered a month after their wedding that the defendant was a drug addict.
She added that he resigned from work and started living on her.
Moyosore further said that Olukayode later moved out of their home, thus abandoning her and their children.
She also accused her husband of physical assault.
According to Moyosore, Olukayode once beat her and did not let go of her until she fainted.
The plaintiff stated that the defendant later took to threatening her.
Moyosore declared that her life was no longer safe with her husband.
She, therefore, prayed that their marriage be dissolved.
The plaintiff further entreated the court for their children’s custody stating that she did not trust him with them.
Moyoso stated that the youngest of their children complained to her of virginal pain after she and her siblings returned home from paying him a visit and this she ascribed to him.
The plaintiff in addition begged the court to order the defendant to be responsible for their children’s upkeep, giving feeding, education and health care a priority.
Finally, she sought an order restraining her husband from harassing, threatening and interfering with her private life.
Olukayode did not make an appearance in court despite being duly served court summons.
Moyosore, in her evidence, said, “I met my husband in 2014 during one of the services in church.
“We started dating and later got married in 2015.
“My husband built our relationship on deceit.
“He told me early in our relationship that he was a National Diploma degree holder, but he confessed to me a few days to our wedding that he was expelled from school as a result of his involvement in cultist activities.
“Although shocked and disappointed, I still went into marriage with him.
“My lord, I never knew the worst was yet to come.
“A month into our marriage, I discovered that my husband is a drug addict.
“He was always sniffing all sorts of substance in the house and would start behaving abnormally which made me afraid of him all the time.
“I complained about his behaviour but he refused to stop.
“I later informed his parents who were obviously helpless.
The only counsel they gave was that I should commit the issue to prayer.
“I prayed and interceded on behalf of my husband but rather than change, he got worse.
“He later resigned from his job without discussing with me or having an alternative.
“Things became difficult in our marriage because he was living on me.
“We were basically feeding from hand to mouth.
“My husband later stopped sleeping at home.
“We always quarrelled any time I demanded to know where he slept.
“He later took some of his belongings and moved out to an undisclosed place.
“He sometimes came to check on the children.
“On one of these occasions, he fought with our landlord and we were given a quit notice.
“I reported to his mother and he got furious.
“He beat me black and blue and refused to stop until I fainted.
“My head was swollen and it hurt.
“I reported him at the police station , he was arrested and detained for two days.
“He also came at another time to assault me verbally.
“He spat on me and also fought me.
“He in addition destroyed some of my property.
“These include our wedding pictures and the compact disk video.
“Our last child started complaining of virginal pain which was accredited to him after she and her siblings returned from paying him a visit in his abode.
“My lord, I have gone through a lot in the hands of my husband.
“I cannot tolerate his misbehaviour any longer.
“We have been living separately since 2023.
“I pray this honourable court to dissolve our wedlock and grant me our children’s custody.
“He has been threatening to deal with me if I refused to hand over our children to him.
“I, therefore, request an order restricting him from threatening and infringing on my privacy.
“I, further plead that the court mandate him to be responsible for our children’s upkeep, giving feeding, education and health, priority.”
The Court President, Mrs O.E Owoseni, after she had heard the plaintiff, stated that both parties had a valid customary marriage.
She added that the evidence given by the plaintiff was unchallenged by the defendant who was given ample opportunity to defend himself but failed to make use of it.
According to Owoseni, the evidence of irresponsibility, deceit and addiction to drugs given by the plaintiff were enough reasons to dissolve the marriage.
Ruling, Owoseni pronounced their wedlock dissolved.
She granted the plaintiff custody of their children.
She further directed the defendant to be responsible for their upkeep.
Owoseni also gave an order restricting the defendant from threatening and encroaching on the plaintiff’s private life.
