Court dissolves 10-yr-old marriage over maltreatment

An Ado-Ekiti Customary Court on Tuesday dissolved a 10-year-old marriage between one Babatunde Aminat and her husband, Jamiu, over maltreatment, frequent beating, fetishism and lack of care.

Aminat, 34; a resident of No. 2E Irona, Ado-Ekiti, told the court that her husband had been maltreating her since they got married.

The mother of two said that her husband had been threatening to kill her and that nothing would happen after her death.

Aminat said that her husband once poured hot custard on her during an argument, adding that she suffered a severe injury and was rushed to the hospital.

She said that since then, she had not been the same again.

The petitioner urged the court to separate them.

But the respondent, a resident of No. 27 Dallimore Kajola in Ado-Ekiti, denied the allegation of beating his wife.

He said that the petitioner was fond of coming back home late.

Jamiu also said that his wife did not allow him to have sex with her for more than a year.

He denied pouring hot custard on his wife, saying it was the petitioner who threatened to pour it on him.

The respondent said he pushed the custard and it poured on her body.

He also said that his wife was pregnant for another man.

The respondent consented to the separation for the sake of peace, and urged the court to award him the custody of the children–Rotiat, nine, and Babatunde, seven.

The President of the court, Mrs Olayinka Akomolede, observed that the marriage had broken down irretrievably and consequently dissolved the marriage.

Akomolede gave custody of the children to the respondent.

She, however, stated that access should be given to the petitioner to see her children.