An Orile-Agege Customary Court in Lagos State has dissolved the three-year-old marriage of a herbalist, Chief Samuel Akinfenwa, to his wife, Ijeoma, whom he accused of beating him.
Akinfenwa, 53, had sought the dissolution, accusing his 29-year-old wife of beating him whenever they had disagreements.
Though the respondent had denied the allegation, she, however said she was also fed up with the marriage.
In granting the petitioner’s prayer, the court president, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, held that there was no more love in the union as the respondent also consented to the dissolution.
Omilola said that the two children of the union should be in their mother’s custody in the interim.
“The custody of the children is referred to the Family Court, Ikeja, for final decision.
‘’The father shall be paying N3,000 through the court for the children’s upkeep.
“He shall also be responsible for the medical bills and education of the children,” he said.
Omilola also directed Akinfenwa to give the respondent N20,000 as compensation.
Akinfenwa, who lives at 6, Jinadu Street, Orile-Agege, Lagos, told the court that the respondent was fond of hitting him.
‘’Anytime we had a misunderstanding, she would injure me with sharp objects; she once stabbed me with a knife and has destroyed all the kitchen utensils at home.
‘’She fought all my family members and has stopped greeting my parents. I want the dissolution of the marriage before she kills me,’’ he said.
The petitioner also accused the respondent of being lazy and neglecting her responsibilities at home.
Ijeoma, a trader, denied the allegations, saying that her husband wanted to leave her because she caught him with another woman.
‘’I caught him with one of his clients in our bed and since then, he has changed.
‘’The kitchen utensils got destroyed as a result of our quarrel,” she said.
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