A man, Amos has pleaded with Grade A Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, to dissolve his union with his wife, Olapeju, on the accounts of irresponsibility, constant fight, physical assault and an attempt on his life.
Amos who is a cleric stated that Olapeju never ceased to embarrass him in public and especially before his congregation.
The plaintiff said the defendant would fight him and chase him around the neighbourhood naked.
Amos stated that his congregation was not exempted from Olapeju’s hostile behaviour.
According to him, she always fought with them and would expose the secrets of those who came to him for prayers.
The plaintiff said he has had enough of his wife’s atrocities.
He pleaded for custody of their only child and also requested for order restraining his wife from harassing, threatening and interfering with his private life.
Olapeju denied all the allegations brought against her.
She refused that their marriage be dissolved; neither did she agree that her husband had custody of their children.
Amos in his testimony said, “My lord, I derive no joy being married to my wife.
“I have had no peace since we wedded. All I receive from my wife are insults, embarrassment and humiliation.
“I have had enough of my wife’s atrocities. I am tired of our marriage and I want it dissolved.
“Olapeju has no respect for me. She disgraces me in public and especially in the presence of my congregation.
“She rubs shoulders with me and has refused that I have a say in the home.
“She flouts my orders at will and dares to do my worst.
“Olapeju fights me at every given opportunity, while she is also in the habit of assaulting me.
“My wife on many occasions will roughen my clothes when quarrelling with me. She will end up fighting me and tearing my clothes to shreds.
“I go about almost naked these days because she has torn almost all my clothes.
“My wife at other times will go irate and chase me round the neighbourhood naked, thus turning us into a spectacle.
“Olapeju turned me into an object of scorn and ridicule in our compound and neigbhourhood.
“She once hit me during a fight and I fainted and was admitted in the hospital.
“I sued her for divorce in court after I was discharged from the hospital.
“She was served with a court summon which she tore into pieces in the presence of the court bailiff and emptied the pieces in my pocket.
“Her parents and other relatives later pleaded with me to forgive her and I withdrew the case from court.
“My wife at another time attempted to kill me.
“She gave me an injection when I was sick and my condition got worse.
“I was later rushed to the hospital where several tests were carried out on me.
“It was discovered from the results of the tests that my wife actually poisoned me.
“Olapeju has always been hostile to my church members and at loggerhead with them.
“My wife leaks out secrets of as many as come to me for prayers whenever she has a misunderstanding with them.
“Olapeju did the worst when she got me arrested by the police while preaching on the pulpit.
“She disgraced me and almost tore my church apart.
“My lord, I no longer want my wife under my roof.
“She has disgraced me enough. All I pray for is divorce and custody of our only child.
“My wife is Ill natured and cannot nurture our child properly.
“I also pray for order restricting her from threatening me and interfering with my private life.
The court president, Mrs S.M Akintayo after she heard the plaintiff, adjourned the case for further hearing.
(Photo illustration courtesy of Saturday Tribune)
