* Housewife tells court
A housewife – Mrs. Toyin Fakola – has sued her husband Femi Fakola at Ile Tuntun Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, seeking divorce.
Toyin in her suit, accused her husband of irresponsibility and neglect.
The plaintiff highlighted her husband’s failure in the area of feeding, clothing and training of their children in school.
According to her, the defendant does not give her money, adding that she has been the one paying their house rent.
Yet her husband, she said, falsely accuses her of infidelity.
Toyin stated that despite being weighed down by the challenge of meeting their needs, Femi would still come to her shop to rain abuses.
The plaintiff further stated that her parents had left her to her fate because they never supported her marriage in the first place.
Toyin pleaded with the court to dissolve her union with Femi, adding that she would live a better life without him.
Femi did not come to court despite having been served court summons.
Toyin said: “My husband has failed to take care of me since we got married. He didn’t change even when we started having our children.
“He never gives me and our children feeding allowance, while he is not bothered if they go naked.
“He returns home everyday feeling comfortable being served dinner without contributing a dime.
“He actually told me to take up these responsibilities since I’m working.
“My lord, my husband has never shown interest in our children’s education. I bear the responsibility of their fees and ensure I pay as and when due.
“Any time our children asked him for a need he would direct them to me.
“Femi insisted I pay our rent and this I have been doing for years because I don’t want our landlord to throw us out.
“My lord, despite labouring day and night to make ends meet, my husband still has the guts to accuse me of infidelity.
“He would come to my shop to fight me and destroy my goods.
“This causes me embarrassment and has given me a bad name among my friends.
“My lord, I came to court because I have come to my tethered end.
“I have not received any support from my parents because they were never in support of my marriage to my husband. They told me bluntly to face the consequence.
“My lord, I appeal to this honourable court to end our wedlock and grant me custody of our children.
Giving his judgment, the court president, Chief Olasunkanmi Agbaje, stated that it was obvious the defendant was not interested in saving his marriage since he refused to come to court after being served summonses.
Agbaje dissolved their wedlock and granted custody of their children to the plaintiff.
The defendant was mandated to take up the responsibility of their children’s upkeep.