Woman seeks divorce over abandonment

A mother of three, Rashidat Nureni, is seeking divorce at an Igando Customary Court in Lagos because her husband abandoned her and three children for 12 years.

The petitioner told the court on Thursday that her husband, Ayinla, who she married 18 years ago, abandoned her and the three girls when he got a job outside Lagos.

“He only called me for few days and stopped calling. All efforts to reach him proved abortive as his numbers were no longer reachable.

“Whenever I informed his parents that their son was not calling me, they told me that he was busy and that he would call when less busy.

“His parent told me that he used to communicate with them, but they refused to give me his number,” she told the court.

Rashidat accused her husband, who failed to appear in court after being summoned several times, of lack of care.

“I have been the one paying the house rent and paying the children’s school fees; he did not call to ask of their wellbeing nor visit home.

“His parent never called nor asked of the children; anytime I went to them for assistance, they always told me that they did not have money,” she submitted.

The petitioner claimed that the parents-in-law refused to assist her because she gave birth to only girls.

“My mother-in-law used to tell me even before my husband travelled that I was not their wife because I did not have a son,” she said.

She prayed the court to dissolve the marriage to enable her to move on.

“I am no longer in love with him,” she added.

The Court President, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, adjourned the case till Oct. 25 for continued hearing.