4th August, 2011
A trader, Ada Amonu on Wednesday prayed a Grade “B†Customary Court in Oshodi, Lagos to urgently dissolve her 10-year-old marriage to save her from constant beating by her husband.
At the resumed hearing in her divorce suit, Ada, 37 said that her husband, Andrew, had continued to batter her and had refused to be responsible for his family’s upkeep.
“I cannot continue to live with a husband who will not perform his duties as a husband and father,†she said.
The petitioner had told the court on July 13 that Andrew attempted to strangle her to death in March and that he had been causing her bodily harm through constant beatings.
However, Andrew, who was represented by his counsel, Mr. B.C. Ferguson, had told the court that he did not want the marriage dissolved.
He prayed the court to adjourn the matter to enable him and his relatives to make reconciliatory moves.
Thus, the Court President, Alhaja A.I. Olorunimbe fixed Wednesday for report on the possible reconciliation.
She urged Andrew’s relative, Mr. Felix Odikanwa, who volunteered to champion the cause of the reconciliation, to make the report to the court next week.
Odikanwa, however, told the court on Wednesday that Andrew and Ada were not ready to be reconciled.
“It is so unfortunate that they are so stubborn and would not give peace a chance.
“Ada has decided to get a lawyer to stand for her so that she can get the divorce as quickly as possible,“ Odikanwa said.
Ada‘s counsel, Mrs M.I. Lawal prayed the court to grant a short adjournment on the matter to enable her to study the case.
Andrew’s counsel, Ferguson, did not object to the adjournment.
The court consequently adjourned the case till Sept. 28 for continued hearing.