1st February, 2012
An Oshodi Grade ‘B’ Customary Court in Lagos on Tuesday dissolved a nine-year old marriage over constant wife battering and threat to life.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the couple, who reside at 16, Olori Street, Sogunle near Oshodi, had been married since 2003 and had a five-year old boy.
The estranged wife, Abigail Apajobi, 29, had approached the court asking it to dissolve the marriage, citing battery and threat to life.
Abigail said: “My husband is not responsible; he threatens my life all the time and also beats me constantly. I did not want to marry him, but the marriage was arranged or compelled by the General Overseer of our church.
“I want the marriage to be dissolved as there is no love lost between us.
The husband, Dare Apajobi, a pastor, who denied all the allegations, said he had no objection to the prayers of his wife.
“The only problem I have with her is that she already had two children before I married her and I cannot live with those children.
“They have very bad behaviour, they steal and are disrespectful. She should take them to their father,” he told the court.
The President of the court, Alhaja A.I. Olorunimbe, said since the couple had agreed to the dissolution, she had no option than to sever the union.
“Since both parties have agreed to the dissolution and coupled with the fact that they have been separated for two years, the court hereby dissolve the marriage,” she ruled.
Olorunimbe, however, granted the woman the custody of the child and warned that the father should not be denied access to him.