“He Spent Only N2,800 On Our Only Child In Three Years’

A woman, Latola Ajagbe, has approached a Customary Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, seeking the dissolution of her three and a half-year- old marriage to her husband, Idris Ajagbe.

Latola sought for divorce on account of battery and neglect by her husband.

She prayed the court to separate them and grant her custody of their three-year-old child.

“I got married to my husband three and a half years ago, but I have never enjoyed my marriage.

“My husband has not been fair to me. He neglects me, maltreats and sends me on marathon fast on many occasions.

“He’s totally indifferent to my welfare;  I have never received any gesture of love from him since we got married which has affected the affection I have for him.

“The worst part of it all is that he beats me. Anytime he is angry with me, he descends on me with heavy blows. He hits and kicks me.

“I feel aches and pain all over my body on daily basis, but he just doesn’t care.

“He has even extended this uncaring attitude to our only child.

“Since we had our baby, three years ago, he had spent only N2,800 on her. He once gave me N1,200; at another time N1,000 and the last time, N300 .

“I moved out of his house with our child when I couldn’t stand his beatings again.

“Since then he has not given me a dime for our child’s upkeep or education.

“My lord, it is better to be a widow than have a husband who is not alive to his responsibilities.

“I earnestly pray that our marriage be dissolved, “the plaintiff said.

The defendant failed to show up in court after being served a court summons.

The court president, Chief Ademola Odunade, after listening to the plaintiff, observed that her love for the defendant had waned.

Giving his judgment, Odunade ruled that their marriage be dissolved and granted the plaintiff custody of their child.

He ordered the defendant to pay N5,000 monthly through the court as their child’s feeding allowance and be responsible for her education and health care.