P.M.EXPRESS reports that the wife, Temilade, filed the suit before Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, alleging that her husband neglected her and their four children by abandoning his responsibilities towards the children because they are female.
Apart from negligence and abandonment of her and the children, Ganiyu was said to be in the habit of assaulting her physically. And she received no succor from her husband’s family members, who were hostile towards her and her children and instructed her at the end of the day to move out of her husband’s house.
An embittered Temilade told the Court she was no longer interested in the union and the Court should pronounce that they were no longer husband and wife.
She also pleaded for the custody of their children and her husband be made responsible for their upkeep and demanded N30, 000 per month as allowance for their children’s upkeep.
The woman, Temilade, also asked the Court to order her husband to allow her pack the remaining of her belongings from his house and restrain him from threatening and interfering with her private life.
She narrated: “I met my husband through his friend. We became friends and later dated. He impregnated me while we were dating and I moved into his house”.
“My husband did not carry out the normal traditional rites before we started living together as husband and wife. He likewise didn’t pay my dowry.”
“I put to bed four months after I packed into his house. I was delivered of a female child. He became cold and distant towards me and even our new born baby because she’s a female child.”
“Our marriage is blessed with four children and they are all girls.
His second wife on the other hand bore him three children, all male. My husband acted partial in his dealings towards me and my rival.”
“He neglected me and our children and consistently shirked his responsibilities towards us, while he lavishes attention and gifts on his second wife and children.”
“I worked round the clock to ensure that the children did not starve, I clothed and train our children in school. I have been responsible for their school fees from the outset of their education.”
“Ganiyu did not stop at this. He took to assaulting me physically.
My husband sought every opportunity to beat me and this in the presence of our children. We were always fighting.
My husband’s family members made matters worse. They did not hide their bias for a female child and thus made life tough for me.”
“They were hostile to me and my children and treated us like second class citizens.
They stormed our home one day and ordered that I moved out of their son’s house with my children.”
“It is almost going to a year that I was thrown out of my husband’s house. My husband cares less about our children’s welfare since we left him.”
“My lord, I want an end to my union to my husband since he believes my children and I do not exist.”
However, the husband, Ganiyu, denied all the allegations and the matter was adjourned for further hearing.