MICHAEL AKINOLA
It was an emotional atmosphere at Isolo Magistrates Court in Lagos State after a 40-year old man, Ikechukwu Nwokoafor, charged his 45-year old barren wife, Ogechi, to Court in order to please a 24-year old lady, Blessing, who he secretly impregnated.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that Ogechi got married to Ikechukwu eight years ago having established a business for him and rented an apartment, where both of them lived in Isolo area of Lagos as husband and wife.
However, the marriage became turbulent after those years as Ogechi was unable to conceive and bear a child after seeking both medical and spiritual solutions.
While they were still praying and waiting upon God, a lady, Blessing, who resides at No. 28 Joseph Adome Street, Maza Maza area of Lagos, who knew their problem, targeted Ikechukwu, slept with him and got pregnant for him.
Blessing was said to have become pregnant and kept it secretly until it was over six months before he informed the man, Ikechukwu and said that since he was looking for a child, the only condition that will make her to keep the pregnancy was for him to get married to her and send Ogechi away.
This was said to have been going on between Ikechukwu and Blessing before his wife, Ogechi, got the information and assaulted Blessing at Isolo area. She was said to have injured her in the process and she was taken to the hospital for treatment.
Following the alleged assault on Blessing, the matter was reported to the Police at Area D Command, Mushin. The Police then arrested Ikechukwu’s wife, Ogechi and charged her before the Court for conduct likely to cause breach of public peace, threat to life and assault on Blessing.
She pleaded not guilty when she was arraigned.
The prosecutor, Mr. Oje Uagbale, asked the Court to give a date for hearing on the matter since she pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that she actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O.A. Akokhia, granted Ogechi bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum.
She was remanded in custody at the correctional center pending when she will perfect her bail conditions while the matter was adjourned till 31st January, 2023, for mention as well as report of any possible settlement over the matter.
The man, Ikechukwu, was said to have publicly denounced Ogechi as his wife while he announced Blessing as the new wife. He was also said to have contacted Blessing’s family in order to perform all the traditional rites as required by the Igbo customs and tradition.