A businesswoman, Memunat Adeoye, sought from a Mapo Grade A Customary Court in Ibadan an end to the five-year-old union to her estranged husband Abdullateef because of poor feeding and lack of care.
Adeoye, a mother of one, told the court that when she got pregnant with Abdullateef, he asked her to move in with his parents.
” Living with my in-laws was uncomfortable for me.
”He has never bought any baby food. He gives me N1,000 as a weekly feeding allowance.
“As if that was not enough, Abdullateef’s relatives have been very hostile to me,” she said.
She alleged that he beat her.
“My Lord, there is no love between us, please separate us,” Adeoye said.
Abdullateef, a farmer, however, denied most of the allegations levelled against him.
“My wife is rude. She calls me unprintable names and curses me.
“I give her N1000 because there is always food in the house.
“I will only allow her to take custody of the child on grounds that she will not put the child in her mother’s care,” Abdullateef submitted.
Delivering judgment, the President of the court, Mrs S.M. Akintayo held that there was no valid marriage to be dissolved between Adeoye and Abdullateef due to the absence of payment of bride price and other essential things required for a valid customary marriage.
Akintayo noted that the couple testified that no bride price was paid according to traditional rules.
”This means that their togetherness has all along been a mere cohabitation,” she said.
However, she ordered Abdullateef to pay a monthly feeding allowance of N5,000 for the child’s upkeep.
She granted the order restraining the respondent from harassing, threatening and interfering in the personal life of the petitioner.
