27th March, 2012
A middle-aged petty trader, Joseph Olowofusi, on Monday pleaded with a Mushin Customary Court in Lagos to dissolve his five-year old marriage to his wife, Iyabo, over her alleged failure to cook his meals.
Olowofusi, who resides at 16, Osoro St., Papa Ajao, Mushin, told the court that his wife was in the habit of collecting money from him, without giving him food.
“I have been giving her money for food, but she will never prepare any meal for me. She was using it as punishment for me whenever we quarrelled but in the past two years, it has become a permanent thing.
“She will call me unprintable names whenever I request for food. I don’t know how to cook and I don’t like eating outside. What is the benefit of having a wife who has refused to cook? ” he asked.
Olufusi said that Iyabo recently started denying him access to her body, adding that he could no longer endure her attitude.
“I am fed up with her attitude. She has remained adamant. She doesn’t allow me to touch her. She is very stubborn. She is not ready for a change.
“The last time we came to court for mediation, she rained curses on me till we got home. I am tired,” Olowofusi said.
Responding to the allegations, Iyabo told the court that he was hard to please.
“I stopped cooking because he was always complaining. He will never eat the food I prepare. It is difficult to please him,” she said.
Iyabo also told the court that she wanted to remain in her marriage because she was still in love with her husband.
The Court President, Abayomi Ipaye, counselled the respondent on the need for her to be submissive to her husband, as the head of the family.
He pleaded with the petitioner to give his wife another chance, before making any decision that could be detrimental to the future of their children.
He gave the couple two weeks to make amends, based on the court’s counsel.
The case was adjourned till April 26 for further hearing.