MICHAEL AKINOLA
A housewife, Laide Olabisi, has filed a suit before the Customary Court, Mapo in Ibadan, Oyo State, seeking for the dissolution of her four-year old marriage to her husband, Femi Olabisi, for moving out from their matrimonial home without informing her.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the embattled woman told the Court that she wants divorce on the grounds of irreconcilable differences in their marriage, which was filled with crisis.
The plaintiff explained that she and her husband always had misunderstandings because they hardly ever agree on issues and both her family and that of her husband had on several occasions mediated in their differences but it did not work.
She added that the more she tried to make their marriage work, the more she and her husband drifted apart.
Laide said that she came to Court as a last resort and prayed the Court to dissolve her union with her husband so that they will go their separate ways.
The plaintiff offered that her husband had the custody of their child, but requested that the Court should grant her free access to her any time she wishes to.
The man, Femi, accepted the divorce stating that his wife was stubborn. He explained that his wife always flouts his order and refused to listen to his advice.
He further said that she associated with bad friends, who influenced her negatively.
The plaintiff in her testimony said, “My husband and I courted for eight years before we got married. Our wedlock was blessed with a child a year after this.
I believed that with the arrival of our baby our love would be consolidated, but this was not the case”.
“Femi and I obviously don’t understand each other. We were always at loggerhead and found it difficult to resolve our crisis.
My family and his mediated in our differences times without number and always advised that we allow peace to reign.”
“The fight we had last year was the last straw that broke the camel’s back. My husband left home after we fought and refused to return.
My lord, this is the reason I came to Court today.
I appeal to this honourable Court to dissolve our marriage so that I can move on with my life.”
“My husband can have the custody of our child” she said.
Femi then told the Court, “My lord, Laide has stretched my patience. I, therefore, agree that you dissolve our marriage.
I left home because I didn’t want to engage in domestic violence”.
“It is unfortunate that my marriage to her didn’t work. Laide and I were living in different towns while we were courting. We failed to learn about each other’s behaviour. We only got to know ourselves after we got married.
I discovered Laide is stubborn and was never ready to listen or take instructions from me.”
“The more I complained about her shortcomings, the worse she became which led to frictions in our marriage.
My wife loved to associate with irresponsible women, which I frowned at. I warned her to stay clear of these women but she disregarded all my warnings.”
“My lord, I will do my best to ensure that our child is well brought up with priority given to education and health, “the defendant promised.
The Court President, Mrs. S.M. Akintayo, adjourned the matter for judgment.