My husband is a figurehead. I feed our five children and pay their fees – Divorce-seeking woman tells Oyo court

A woman, Abiodun, has approached Grade A Customary Court, sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, seeking  an end to the relationship between her and her husband, Damilola, on the grounds of irresponsibility, troublesomeness and battery.

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Abiodun said that Damilola was nothing but a figurehead in the home rather than being a husband.

Abiodun also said that although Damilola never ceased to claim that he was the head of the home, he carried out no responsibility towards this end.

She told the court that he daily shirked his responsibility towards her and their five children and passed the buck of his duties to her.

According to Abiodun, she was the one feeding the home and paying their children’s school fees.

The plaintiff further explained that the defendant was troublesome and refused that she had rest of mind despite the weight of the responsibilities she was carrying in the home.

Abiodun stated that the rewards her husband constantly meted out to her for being loyal to him and devoted to their family were severe beatings, almost on a daily basis.

The plaintiff said she wanted to move on with her life and, therefore, sought that their wedlock be dissolved.

In addition, she entreated the court to grant her custody of their five children but begged that it mandate her husband to be responsible for their upkeep, giving feeding, education, and health care priority.

Damilola, in his response, agreed that they go their different ways.

“My husband did not pay my bride price. We started living together shortly after we met,” she said. 

“He is irresponsible and a figurehead. He always neglected me and our five children and cared less if we starved.

“He made me labour under the weight of his responsibility, which he passed to me.

“I work hard all day in order that there would be food on the table. The payment of our children’s school fees automatically became my duty.

“My husband, despite my sacrifices in keeping the home going, refused that I had respite.

“He was troublesome and was always on my nerves.

He never ceased to beat me. He finally threw me out of the house in August last year.

“My lord, I want to pick up the pieces of my life. I, therefore, plead that the court dissolve our union.

“I also entreat the court for our children’s custody so that I can give them adequate attention.

“I, in addition, implore the court to rule that my husband be responsible for their feeding and education. I further request an order restraining him from encroaching on my privacy.”

The president of the court, Mrs S.M. Akintayo, adjourned the case until April 20 for defence.