‘My Husband Abandoned Me, Wants To Marry Banker’

A 28-year old housewife, Mrs. Ogechi Okeke, on Thursday pleaded with a Customary Court in Mushin, Lagos, to dissolve her marriage over threat to life and battery.

Ogechi, who resides at 40, Akinkumi Street, Ikate, Surulere, said that her husband, Kingsley Okeke, abandoned her because he wanted to marry another woman who would bring him good luck.

“He abandoned me while I was two-month pregnant with our second child.

“He said I was an obstacle to his success in life and accused me of blocking his chances of getting rich quick,” she told the court.

She also accused her husband of abandoning her because she was uneducated.

“He told me he wants to marry a graduate banker who will create a platform for him to succeed,” Ogechi said.

She added Okeke was in the habit of beating her mercilessly before he abandoned their matrimonial home last year.

“I suffered three miscarriages as a result of his constant beatings. He would kick me in my stomach without thinking of the foetus in me.

“He took me to the hospital after I suffered the last miscarriage and abandoned me there. I used my money to pay the hospital bills and walked home after discharge,” she said.

The petitioner also alleged that her husband did not take care of their two children, aged three and four years.

“He didn’t take care of our first child when he was terribly sick. I spent over N160,000 for the surgery on the child.

“Our child has a disease that affected his speech and breathing organs. The boy cannot talk till now,” Ogechi told the court.

According to her, it took the intervention of the Office of Public Defender for her husband to take their ailing child to his company’s hospital.

She accused her husband of being an ingrate who abandoned her when he got a good job.

“I fed him with proceeds from my clothing business for two years. I even got a guarantor to sign his application before he could get a job,” she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okeke was not in court to respond to the allegations.

The Court President, Dr Abayomi Ipaye, did not take kindly to the absence of the respondent despite being served a court summons.

He, therefore, directed the registrar to write to Okeke’s employers informing them of his irresponsible attitude.

“Okeke’s absence from court in spite of receiving a court summons is a confirmation of his attitude. His employers should be involved to compel him to become responsible,” Ipaye said.

He also requested for the address of Okeke’s aunt to allow the court invite her to intervene.

Further hearing in the case has been adjourned till May 5.