A Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan on Tuesday dissolved a 15-year-old marriage between one Mr Akanmu Kasali and his ninth wife, Mujidat, over allegations of threat to life.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mujidat approached the court with claims that her husband was wicked and troublesome.
She told the court presided over by Chief Ademola Odunade that she had suffered enough in the marriage and was no longer in love with Kasali with whom she had three children.
“My lord, he beats me at will; he once locked me and the children inside a room at night.
“I have every reason to believe that he intends to kill me and the children; if not, why would he put poison in the food I was cooking. He is a threat to my life.
“I am fed up with this marriage. I plead that you will allow us to go our separate ways,” she said.
The petitioner also told the court that Kasali was uncaring.
In his response, Kasali consented to the divorce, but denied attempting to poison Mudijat and the children.
“I seduced her from another man about 15 years ago, and we have three children.
“The poison she mentioned was just special leaves we used in cooking beans for the entire family; she is very much aware of this.
“I did not lock her in a room.
“However, I am in support of divorce,” he said.
In his ruling, Odunade dissolved the union on grounds of irreconcilable differences.
He gave the custody of the children to Mujidat, and ordered Kasali to pay N10,000 monthly for their feeding.
“You are to equally take responsibility of the children’s education and healthcare,” the President told Kasali. (NAN)