8th March, 2012
A 60-year old storekeeper, Mr. Samuel Fayose, has acussed his 45-year old wife, Adetutu, of adultery and witchcraft.
He also claimed that she once slapped him for challenging her on her clandestine movements.
Fayose who dragged the mother-of-four before an Agege Grade ‘A’ Customary Court, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, pleaded with it to dissolve the 20-year old marriage on grounds of threat to life, adultery and lack of care.
The petitioner, who resides at 8, Adesanya Street, Ishaga, Lagos, told the court that his wife, Adetutu was fetish, disrespectful and did not care for him and the children.
“My daughter, Funmilayo, was sweeping one day when I saw one substance among the dirt on the floor. I picked it up and discovered it was a snail shell tied with black and white thread and inside it was my hair.
“I knew immediately that it was my hair because I am the only one in the house with grey hair. I also saw one of my trousers with a mud with black thread. As an elderly man, I knew it was a bad omen,” he said.
He also alleged that his wife goes out in the evening and comes back late in the night and if asked where she was coming from, she would start insulting him.
According to him,”She once slapped me for asking where she was coming from. She even told me that she is the husband and not me.”
He told the court that he sent her packing on May 26, 2011 when he could no longer condone her behaviour, adding that she took three of the children along and left one with him.
While pleading with the court to dissolve the marriage, Fayose asked for the custody of the four children of the union.
In her response to the allegations levelled against her, Adetutu who lives in Celestial Church of Christ, Oluwatosin, Ijinle Ife Parish, Iju, told the court that there is no iota of truth in her husband’s claims.
“I am a prophetess in that church. That is what I do for a living. My husband is not a straight forward man from the day we met.
“He failed as a father to my children and as a husband to me. He is stingy to a fault. As his wife, I don’t know how much he collects in a month.
“He doesn’t listen to other people. He does things the way he pleases. I stayed with him for 20 years because his family members were nice to me,” she told the court.
She agreed to the divorce but pleaded with the court to grant her custody of the children, including the one currently living with her husband.
The Court President, Mr. Emmanuel Sokunle, told the couple to bring the children to court on the adjourned date and to remain at peace.
He adjourned the case till March 26 for further hearing.
—Jamiu Yisa