23rd November, 2010
A 19-year old marriage was yesterday dissolved by the Abeokuta Grade 2 Customary Court in Ake, due to religious differences with the husband.
The 38-year old wife, Rhoda Oladipupo, told the court that her husband, Sunday, a 44-year old driver, wanted her to be a traditional religion worshipper as against her choice which, according to her, is Christianity.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Rhoda told the court that she was tired of the 19-year old union, which had produced five children, aged 18, 15, 13, 10 and six.
The complainant said that each time she went to church, she received beating from Sunday, adding that he maltreated her so often because of their religious differences.
She said the situation made her to pack out of her matrimonial home six months ago along with their last three children.
Rhoda also told the court that she had been living within the premises of her church with the children since she packed out.
The woman also alleged that Sunday had come to the church several times to beat her up with little or no resistance.
“He comes here to beat me until he was threatened that he would be handed over to the police by the church,†she said.
Rhoda said the situation was frustrating and tiring and “I have no option but to seek dissolution of the union.â€
She, thereafter, appealed to the court to dissolve the marriage.
Rhoda also wanted the court to mandate Sunday to be responsible for the children’s education and upkeep.
The estranged couple had appeared in court on 25 October, 8 November and 19 November before yesterday’s final hearing and judgment.
The President of the court, Chief Ishola Fajebe, said he was not happy that the husband was not in court to listen to the judgment.
Ishola said it was evident that love no longer existed between the couple and that their continuous staying together might lead to bloodshed.
He, therefore, dissolved the marriage and advised Rhoda to take care of the three children, while ordering Sunday to be paying N3,000 monthly for each of the children’s upkeep and education.
He said the money must be paid to the Court Registry as from 30 December, 2010.
He told Rhoda that Sunday must be allowed to see his children whenever he wished.
