Grade A Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has dissolved the union between a couple, Mariam and Lamidi, on the grounds of irresponsibility and constant abandonment of the home.
Mariam, who dragged her husband to court, explained that he constantly shirked his responsibility towards her and their children.
She added that he was in the habit of abandoning her and their children for days without leaving a clue as to his whereabouts and would later surface again and act as if all was well.
The plaintiff stated that their relationship broke down irretrievably after he stopped coming home, which informed her that he had a decision to move out of his house.
Mariam further said that Lateef had since then refused that she had rest of mind.
According to her, he would come to her new place of abode and office to harass and threaten her.
She thus sought an order, restraining him from threatening and interfering with her private life.
Lateef was absent in court despite being served court summonses
Mariam told the court, “My husband and I did not carry out any marital rites, and neither did he pay my bride price.
“We started living together as husband and wife shortly after we met.
“My husband proved to be responsible at the onset of our matrimony.
“He constantly neglected his duties towards me and our children.
“I was the one feeding the home and training our children in school.
“My husband till date does not know what classes our children are or how well they fared in their academics.
“My husband hardly gave me and our children feeding allowance.
“I took up this responsibility in the home and worked round the clock each day to feed him and our children.
“He would sit down and eat without caring to know what efforts I made to have food on the table at each meal.
“He was in the habit of abandoning me and our children for days and would show up at home again.
“I complained, and we fought over this, but he refused to change.
“My husband later stopped coming home.
“I moved out of his house with our children and rented another apartment where we now live.
“He had since refused to let me have peace of mind.
“He is always coming there to threaten and fight me and likewise at my place of work.
“My lord, I have tolerated my husband enough.
“All that I pray the court for is the dissolution of our union and custody of our children.
“I beseech the court to mandate him to be responsible for our children’s upkeep.
“I further request an order restraining him from threatening and interfering with my private life.”
Giving her judgment, the court president, Mrs S.M Akintayo, stated that it was necessary that the plaintiff be granted her relief since the defendant was ample to defend himself, but he refused to come to court.
According to Akintayo, his attitude shows that he was not interested in saving his marriage.
Ruling, Akintayo dissolved their union and granted the plaintiff custody of their children.
The plaintiff was ordered to be responsible for their upkeep, giving feeding, education, and health care a priority.
It also gave an order restraining the defendant from threatening and interfering with the plaintiff’s private life.
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