By Ado Oyeyemi
A woman, Moriamo, has told a Grade A Customary Court sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, that repeated beatings by her husband, Kayode, sometimes left her hospitalised.
Moriamo, who sought the dissolution of their union, accused her husband of domestic violence, neglect and failing to take responsibility for the welfare of their family.
She told the court that although she and Kayode contributed towards buying food for the home, she was largely responsible for enrolling their children in school and paying their fees.
According to her, Kayode became violent whenever she confronted him about his responsibilities, alleging that he would beat her severely during disagreements.
She further claimed that her husband sometimes tore her clothes during fights and left her almost naked, while some of the assaults allegedly resulted in her being admitted to hospital.
Moriamo said, “My marriage to my husband is void of love and care. He neglected me and extended the same attitude to our children.
“My husband failed to carry out his duties in the home. We both contributed towards buying foodstuff every month, while I bore the responsibility of training our children in school because he was indifferent to their education.
“My husband is brutal in nature and fond of beating me to a pulp whenever we had a misunderstanding.
He would become angry whenever I challenged him to be up to his responsibilities and would beat me severely.
“He always tore my clothes during the beatings and left me almost stark naked. There were times I ended up being admitted to the hospital after he had dealt with me brutally.”
The woman also alleged that Kayode extended the alleged violence to her workplace, claiming that he sometimes went to her shop to fight and beat her.
She said she eventually left the marriage because she could no longer endure what she described as maltreatment, urging the court to end the union and restrain Kayode from threatening or interfering with her private life.
In his response, Kayode agreed to the dissolution but denied the allegations levelled against him by his wife.
He maintained that he had been responsible for the children’s education and other family needs, adding that he only refused to pay the examination fee of their third child because Moriamo had left the matrimonial home without his consent.
Kayode also claimed that Moriamo had since married another man and appealed to the court to grant him custody of their last child, a boy.
After hearing both parties, the court president, Mrs S.M. Akintayo, held that there was no valid customary marriage to dissolve because no bride price had been paid.
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The court, however, ordered Kayode to stop threatening Moriamo or interfering with her private life.
