The President of a Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan, Chief Ademola Odunade, has Terminated an eight-year marriage between Damilola Ogundeji and her husband, identified as Ahmed, over complaints bordering on theft and wife battery.
Ogundeji had gone to the court to seek the end of her eight-year-old marriage to her husband, Ahmed, on accounts of incessant theft, laziness, and battery.
The businesswoman told the court that she was tired of losing her hard-earned money to her husband’s consistent theft. She accused her estranged husband of “always following politicians around to political gatherings instead of getting a productive means of livelihood.
She said “My lord, I am tired of losing my hard-earned money to Ahmed’s continuous thefts. “If I dare ask him about the money or refuse to cook in time due to non-availability of money, he beats me mercilessly. “adding that her husband Ahmed sometimes destroys my goods and plays no form of responsibility on the children and me.
Ogundeji further stated that her husband took a huge sum of money from her to buy land and tricycle for commercial transportation but there is nothing to show for it to date noting that he has not delivered anything to her.
Alhaji Suleiman Apanpa and Alhaji Rafiu Raji, who are her witnesses in their testimonies, stated that Damilola was always beaten up by her husband any time she did not make enough money to cook at home.
However, Ahmed while giving his consent to the divorce-seeking suit, didn’t deny any of the allegations leveled against him.
He, however, alleged that his wife was a prostitute, adding that he expelled her from his home for that reason.
He said “After all my appeals to Damilola to stop making herself a public tap failed, adding that he reported her to her parents and relatives, but she never turned a new leaf and I sent her away.
However, “Following my parents’ advice, I later went to plead with Damilola in her family’s house, but she refused to listen to me
Also, Ahmed requested the custody of the two children stating that he is responsible.
Odunade, in his ruling, ended the marriage “in the interest of peace and harmony”.
He also directed that the two children produced by the union should be in the custody of the petitioner, and ordered the respondent to pay N10,000 monthly, as upkeep allowance. Adding that Ahmed should also be responsible for the education of the children and their general welfare.