20th May, 2013
A 52-year old businessman, Kaluemetu Emmanuel has been arraigned in court for beating his wife, Ifeoma, after he ordered her to pack out of his house after years of marriage without a child.
According to Ifeoma, trouble started after her husband from Enugu State, southeast Nigeria, impregnated their housemaid identified as Blessing from Akwa Ibom State and she delivered a baby boy.
Her husband reportedly asked her to pack out of their house since she could not bear a child for him, so that Blessing who had done so would come in and settle down as his new wife.
When Ifeoma refused, her husband allegedly beat her and threw her belongings out and the money she kept in her bag also got lost.
The incident happened at their home at 8, Collins street, Kudeyibu Estate, Ijegun on the ouskirts of Lagos State.
Following the alleged assault on Ifeoma, the police at Isheri Oshun division arrested Emmanuel and charged him before Ejigbo Magistrate’s court with assault occassioning harm under the Criminal code.
P.M.NEWS gathered that the couple had lived together for five years without having a child and the husband blamed his wife who he alleged does not want to get pregnant for him.
While they were searching for the fruit of the womb, Ifeoma suggested to him the need to bring a househelp and with her husband’s consent, Blessing was brought in as househelp.
Unknown to her, her husband was secretly sleeping with Blessing whenever she went out, until she got pregnant and with the arrangement of her husband, she left to an undisclosed place where she delivered the baby.
Blessing now wants to return to Emmanuel’s house as wife with the baby and said she would do so if only Ifeoma is thrown out.
Emmanuel then asked Ifeoma to pack out for Blessing and the baby. But when she refused, she was allegedly battered by Emmanuel.
Emmanuel, however, told P.M.NEWS that what happened was an act of God.
He explained that he had pleaded with Ifeoma to get pregnant but she refused because she had children for another man before he married her.
He said he was getting old at 52 without a child and his family was worried before Blessing became pregnant for him.
He denied beating her and said she started destroying his belongings in the house and he tried to prevent her.
When asked about the fate that befell Ifeoma, he said she should go back to her former husband and stay there with her children, while he has taken Blessing as his new wife.
Ifeoma in her response, said that she was shocked when their maid confessed that her husband was responsible for her pregnancy and baby. She said her husband pleaded with her to accept the child which she did.
She said she was also shocked when her husband told her to pack out because he wanted to bring in Blessing who has a child for him.
She said when she refused, he started beating her and even destroyed her belongings.
When Emmanuel was arraigned, he pleaded not guilty.
His counsel, Barrister Essien informed the court that the parties involved in the matter are a couple and asked the court to grant Emmanuel bail on the most liberal condition.
The presiding Magistrate, Mr. P. E. Nwaka granted him bail in the sum of N20,000 with one surety in like sum. He was however remanded in prison custody because nobody showed up to bail him.
The matter was adjourned till 17 June, 2013.
When P.M.NEWS visited their residence, their flat was deserted.
Their neighbour who confirmed the incident said Ifeoma has not returned home since the incident happened.
—Cyriacus Izuekwe