MICHAEL AKINOLA
A housewife, Mrs. Ronke Eke, who filed a suit before the Court to divorce her husband, Johnson Eke, received a shocking response as her husband told her that the Court has no marriage to dissolve between them because he did not pay her bride price.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that Mr. Johnson stated this before the Mapo Grade ‘A’ Customary Court in Oyo State, where Ronke filed the suit asking the Court grant her divorce from estranged husband, Johnson, on grounds of lack of care and battery.
”My husband has not shown me the love he displayed to me before we got married. My life is no longer safe with him because Johnson has turned me into a punching bag,” she told the Court.
An embittered Ronke, who is a security personnel, also told the Court that Johnson was not providing for the children and she moved out of her husband’s home because she could not withstand the domestic violence anymore.
She pleaded with the Court to grant her requests alongside granting her custody of the children.
However, in response, Mr. Johnson, who is a fashion designer, did not oppose the prayer for divorce and said that she was free to go and there was need to come to the Court seeking for divorce because they were not legally married.
”I did not pay any bride price because her parents refused to collect the gift after I told them that I was an orphan. They simply told both of us to go and live peacefully together. I’m still working very hard to ensure that I provide for the children,” Johnson told the Court.
He declined to comment on the allegation of constant domestic violence levelled against him.
The Court President, S.M. Akintayo, while delivering judgment, held that there was nothing to be dissolved in the union between Ronke and Johnson because there was no valid marriage.
However, Akintayo directed the defendant to pay N20,000 as the children’s monthly feeding allowance in addition to being jointly responsible for their schooling and other welfare.
The Court also granted the order restraining Johnson from harassing, threatening and interfering with the private life of Ronke and ordered her to allow Johnson access to the children anytime he wants to see them.