A man, Jimoh, has approached Grade A Customary Court, Mapo 2, sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, seeking that his 25-year-old wedlock with his wife, Aminat, be dissolved on the grounds of lack of love and care, domestic violence and abandonment.
Jimoh stated that Aminat walked out of their marriage after living together for 18 years, leaving their two children who were in their tender age behind, reports Saturday Tribune.
The plaintiff stated that the defendant moved in with another man after abandoning him.
According to Jimoh, Aminat took their first child away from him after raising him to the level that he gained an admission into the tertiary institution.
He added that his wife came back late last year demanding to take their second child away from him.
Jimoh explained that Aminat would be a bad influence on their children because she now associates with women of questionable character.
Jimoh prayed for the dissolution of their marriage.
He also entreated the court for their children’s custody.
The plaintiff further requested an order restraining his wife from threatening and interfering with his private life.
Aminat agreed to the dissolution of their marriage.
She explained that she and the plaintiff had an agreement of sharing equally the financial responsibility of their children.
Jimoh in his testimony said, “I impregnated my wife while we were dating and she moved in with me.
“We did not carry out any marital rites and I did not pay her bride price.
“We both lived together for 18 years and our union was blessed with two children.
“We had our ups and downs like any other couple, but still kept a smooth relationship.
“My wife, to my chagrin, walked out of our marriage and moved in with another man.
“She abandoned me and our two children who were aged 13 years old and 3 years old respectively, I took up the challenge of taking care of them.
“Our first child performed well in his WAEC and was on admission in a tertiary institution.
“My wife came and took him away without my consent.
“She returned late last year demanding to take our second child.
“She has refused that I had rest of mind which was why I came to court.
“She has been sending people to threaten me since I came to court.
“My lord, I pray that you end our relationship and grant me custody of our children whom she abandoned for years.
“I also request an order restricting her from threatening and interfering with my private life.”
Aminat in her response to the allegations told the court that all her husband told the court were lies.
She said: “My lord, although all he said are lies, I agree that our marriage be dissolved.
“My husband never complained that he could not take care of our children.
“We both bore the financial responsibility of their upkeep equally and I never defaulted in our arrangement.
“He refused that I had access to our children. The last time I saw them was in 2022.
“My lord, I entreat the court to grant me their custody.”
Giving her judgment, the president of the court, Mrs O. E. Owoseni, stated that there was no marriage to be dissolved because no customary marriage was held between the two, and no bride price was paid.
According to her, both of them were only cohabiting and that they were not married.
Owoseni further said that she abandoned their two children at ages 13 and 3, when they needed her care and attention, while she also dumped her husband for another man.
Owoseni stated that their first child was old enough to decide with whom he wanted to stay with between both parents.
According to her, their second child was approaching puberty and would need guidance and mentorship of his father.
Owoseni therefore granted the plaintiff custody of their second child.
She mandated both the plaintiff and defendant to be responsible for his upkeep.
