A housewife, Kudirat Arogunmola, who lived with her husband, Ahmed, for 11 years with two children has been told by the Court that she is still single because her husband did not pay her bride price.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan,Oyo State, told Kudrat that despite the fact that she had lived with Ahmed for those years, there was no marriage contract because your dowry was not paid by your husband.
The embattled woman went to the Court asking for dissolution of the union to her estranged husband, Ahmed, on grounds that he was a spendthrift and irresponsible.
The mother of two, who resides in Akpata area of Ibadan, told the Court that she had to move out of her property when her husband turned her into his punching bag.
“My lord, Ahmed lives a flamboyant life and spends lavishly outside his matrimonial home but refuses to show any form of care on the two children and I.”
“In fact, he beats me black and blue. Ahmed is a fine man outside, but a terror inside.”
“I reported all the incidents to Ahmed’s father, but he did not change for the better,” Arogunmola said.
She therefore, pleaded with the Court to prevent the respondent from further threatening her life and allow her to have peace of mind.
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However, the respondent was not in court for his defence.The bailiff explained that the respondent was served through substituted means of his WhatsApp address.
Delivering judgment, President of the Court, Mrs S.M. Akintayo, held that there was no marriage to be dissolved between Arogunmola and Ahmed on grounds that there was no presentation of bride price and performance of other essential marital rites required for a lawful or valid customary marriage.
Akintayo noted that the evidence given by the petitioner that introduction was the only important thing that took place between both of them was not controverted by the respondent because he was absent.
The Court president therefore, granted the order restraining Ahmed from harassing, threatening, and interfering in the private life of Arogunmola henceforth.
She also awarded the custody of the two children in the union to the petitioner.
Akintayo ordered Ahmed to provide for his children.