22nd June, 2011
There was a mild drama in Ikpoba-Oka Area Customary Court, sitting at Agbesan, Benin, Southsouth Nigeria, when a divorce-seeking school principal, Daniel Ofunwegbe Evbayeka, presented a torn white underwear to support his claim that his estranged wife was cantankerous.
He said: “My Lord, sir, this is one o the evidences of how my wife has been fighting me at home and I can no longer tolerate her.â€
Evbayeka was giving the evidence in a divorce suit which he filed before the court.
The three-man panel is headed by the court president, Elizabeth Dele Ogbeide.
The petitioner alleged that his wife fights him at home or even in the market at any slightest provocation.
He said: “The woman was always using any available dangerous weapon she lays her hand on, to attack me.â€
Evbayeka also presented broken metals which he alleged his wife threw at him and the hammer she reportedly used in breaking the door to his bedroom as exhibits.
The court accepted the torn underwear, the broken metals and the hammer as exhibits in the case.
Led in evidence by his lawyer, Charles Asimota, the petitioner further told the court that he married his wife in 1995, according to Benin native laws and custom.
He added that N50 was paid as dowry.
The school principal said he was seeking the dissolution of the marriag and the bride price of N50 should be refunded to him.
The court has adjourned the case for further hearing.
—Yomi Obaditan/ Benin City