5th September, 2012
A Lagos-based houswife, Mrs. Taiwo Ogunrinde has accused her estranged husband, Mr. Adebola Ogunrinde of stealing her money.
As a result of this and other irreconcilable differences, she has asked an Agege Customary Court to dissolve the marriage between them.
In her petition, she accused her husband of being lazy and not taking care of her and her two children.
She told the court that when she lost her job together with her husband in 2006, she started selling foodstuffs at a shop her mother rented for her, to take care of the family.
She claimed that instead of looking for work to do, her husband was stealing the money she made from selling foodstuffs.
“Soon, the business collapsed because there was no money to buy more goods. I became jobless again. During this period, our first child was kicked out of school because we couldn’t pay the fees and the other developed kwashiorkor,” she narrated.
The petitioner told the court further that in 2009, she packed out of the house and moved back to her parents’ house with her children.
“I stayed with my parents for a year. Soon, he came back pleading. I returned to him after he promised to take care of me, a promise he failed to fulfill.
“I started selling recharge cards with the little money I got from people. I used to keep my money and recharge cards in the wardrobe at the end of the day but I will discover the wardrobe broken and some recharge cards stolen the following day. On more than one occasions, I found most of the missing items among his belongings,” she stated.
She said he had taken so much from her that she is now in debt. She prayed the court to dissolve the marriage.
Responding to the allegations, Adebola denied them, claiming that he tried his best to take care of his children. He disclosed that the petitioner constantly accused him of using witchcraft against her which he denied and suggested she could leave so he wouldn’t disturb her any further.
The case has been adjourned till September 18 for further hearing.
—Oluwafunmilola Ogunshina & Anthonia Ohiero