Court Dissolves 25 Years Old Marriage Over Allege Infidelity, Domestic Abuse

A mother of five, Adenike Alabi, has told a Mapo Grade A Customary Court in Ibadan to end her 25-year-old union with her husband, Lukman Alabi, on the grounds of infidelity and frequent battery.

Alabi, a resident of Egbeda-Tuba area of Ibadan, told the court that her husband started beating her immediately after he accused her of being responsible for a miscarriage in 1997.

“My lord, Lukman turned for the worst when he went further to bring various shapes of ladies into our home to sleep with him.

“When it became difficult for me to bear, as a birth attendant, I moved into my clinic to live.

“However, Lukman would come in and destroy my things.

“I reported the matter at the police station and a non governmental organisation where he was warned, but he didn’t stop beating and destroying my things,” Adenike said.

The petitioner said that no dowry was paid on her as both of them started cohabiting together after she became pregnant.

In his argument, Lukman said that his wife no longer took care of him because he had lost his means of livelihood.

“Whenever there is any form of disagreement between both of us, my wife will leave our matrimonial bedroom and move to her clinic.

“In fact, she had been advised by the police personnel to quit the marriage if she was no more comfortable when she reported me at the police station.
“On March 9, she decided to abandon the house when I confronted her with the allegation of promiscuity,” Lukman told the court.

Delivering judgment, the court’s President, Mrs S.M. Akintayo dissolved the cohabitation.

Akintayo held that there was no marriage to be dissolved between her and Lukman because no bride price was paid.

Besides, she said the marriage also lacked other essential requirements considered by the customary law for a valid marriage.

According to Akintayo, the other requirements include the capacity to marry, consent of the parents and presentation of gifts.

She granted custody of the five children produced by the union to the petitioner and ordered Lukman to be responsible for the education and the other welfare of the children.

Akintayo also granted the order restraining Lukman from harassing, disturbing, threatening and interfering in the private life of his ex-partner.