A Lagos
Island Customary Court on Wednesday has dissolved the 17-year-old marriage
between a transporter, Haruna Amunikoro, and his wife, Alimotu, after he
complained that his wife built a house without informing him.
Granting
the husband’s request, the court President, Awos Awosola, said that the effort
of the court to reconcile the parties failed, as Mr. Amunikoro insisted on
divorce.
“The
marriage between the two parties is hereby dissolved with effect from today in
accordance with the Lagos State Customary Court Law, 2011, Order 3, Rule 7, as
amended.
“The
custody of the first child and only son, Anus, 15, is awarded to the father
while that of the two girls, Simiyat, 10; and Aishat, 7, remains with the wife.
“The
petitioner should pay the children’s feeding allowances of N10,000 on a monthly
basis through this honourable court and should also be responsible for the
children school and hospital bills.
“However,
both parties are granted unhindered access to the child/children at any
reasonable time of the day,’’ he ruled.
Mr.
Awosola also ordered the petitioner to give the respondent N250,000
compensation within seven days of the judgment with which to start her new
life.
Mr.
Amuniloro, 42, who resides at No. 91/93 Odunfa St., Lagos Island, in his
petition, told the court that his wife, a trader, bought a plot of land in
Ikorodu and built a bungalow on it without letting him know.
“My
wife has also started giving out tricycle and motorcycle to riders and they pay
for them on instalment, which is the same business that I do.
“I
have warned her severally to stop the business but she would not listen. On two
occasions she has stabbed me with a kitchen knife and a scissors.
“My
wife is not sincere with me. She hides so many things about herself from me. I
cannot cope with her secretive ways any more, please separate us,’’ he pleaded
with the court.
Alimotu,
who did not deny the allegations, said she started being secretive with her
husband because of the sudden change in his behaviour and his infidelity.
She
told the court that their marriage which was once blissful took a different
turn in 2012 when they rented their own apartment.
“We
were staying in my husband’s family house before we rented our own apartment in
2012, since then my husband has been unfaithful to me.
“He
brings different kinds of women into our matrimonial home and sleeps with them
on our bed.
“Whenever
I confronted him, he beats me. On three occasions my husband beat me to a pulp
and stripped me naked.
“I
joined him in doing the same business because it is a lucrative one, but since
I started it, I have had no rest of mind,” she said.
Alimotu,
who had consistently prayed the court to reconcile them as she still loved her
husband, however, pleaded with the court to dissolve the marriage without
further delay.
“Since
I have been begging my husband and his family for so long and nothing positive
have come of it, please dissolve the marriage so I can go on with my life,’”
she said.
-NAN
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