We’ve lived together like strangers for five years, man tells court

A man, Adejare, has approached Grade A Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, seeking that it dissolve the six-year-old wedlock between him and his wife,  Abidemi, on the account of irreconcilable differences.

Adejare stated that he and Abidemi lived like strangers under the same roof for five years.

The plaintiff explained that he and the defendant hardly communicated, while there was no intimacy between them.

He added that they always found it difficult to resolve their differences, like other couples did because his wife was violent.

According to Adejare, Abidemi always went for the pestle when fighting with him.

He added that she had, on some occasions, drew the knife at him.

Adejare further said that the unhealthy relationship between him and his wife took its toll on her wellbeing, thus affecting her emotionally and psychologically.

The plaintiff said the defendant got into depression and attempted suicide.

He thus prayed the court to declare their union dissolved.

Adejare gave his consent to their children being put in Abidemi’s custody, while he also promised to stay committed to looking after their welfare by giving allowance for their upkeep every month.

Abidemi failed to show up in court despite being served court summonses.

Adejare testified thus: “My wife and I had a Customary marriage.

“We started living together in 2019 after I paid N300,000 as her bride price.

“I had a lot of dreams and plans for our marriage, but all these were aborted because my wife never gave our relationship a chance.

“The love I had for my wife while we were courting gradually waned a few months into our marriage.

"Abidemi refused to be submissive.

“She failed to realise that marriage is all about compromise.

“My wife denied me respect as the head of the home.

“We were always at loggerhead and regularly failed to iron out our differences like other couples did.

“We hardly chatted or discussed, which led to a strain in our relationship and later a breakdown in our communication.

"My wife’s health unknowingly began to deteriorate.

“She became emotionally and psychologically unbalanced and went into depression.

“Abidemi became abusive, aggressive, and violent.

 “She made our home unpleasant for me to stay in and also unwelcoming for our relatives and friends.

“She fought me with any dangerous object within her reach.

“She sometimes hit me with the pestle, not minding that she could break my head.

“Abidemi’s behaviour turned worse when she started drawing a knife at me.

“My lord, my wife once attempted suicide after we fought.

“Thank God I was around to foil her plan.

“She moved out of my house with our children after this.

“I have never shirked my responsibility towards our children since she took them away.

“I pray the court to stop our marriage and grant my wife custody of our children.

“I also plead that the court grant me free access to them.

“I pledge to make their upkeep a priority by giving them feeding allowance every month and meeting all of their other needs.”

The court president, Mrs S.M. Akintayo, adjourned the case and ordered that a fresh hearing notice be issued and served the defendant.