A woman, Mariam Muritala, has told a Grade A Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, she is no longer interested in her marriage to her husband, Lekan Muritala on the grounds of irresponsibility and constant battery by the latter.
Mariam stated that Lekan apart from abandoning his responsibility towards her and their children, took to beating her.
According to the plaintiff, the defendant would beat her and tear her clothes to shreds thus leaving her almost naked.
Mariam, giving instances of her husband’s brutality towards her, stated that he beat and almost killed her when their first child was barely three months old.
According to her, she was rushed to the hospital, but that she kept this away from his parents and lied to them that she slipped and fell in the bathroom.
She added that almost a year after she had their third child through cesarean operation, her husband beat her blue black during a misunderstanding and threatened to kick her on the spot she was operated on.
Mariam further added that her husband always visited her shop after she moved out of his house and would fight her and destroy her goods.
The plaintiff in addition to divorce, pleaded for the custody of their children and a court order restraining the defendant from harassing and fighting her at her shop or public place.
Mariam in her testimony stated thus: “My husband is a brute. We never had any moment of intimacy throughout the time we lived together. I moved out of his house after he almost maimed me as a result of too much beating.
“Lekan was irrational and impatient in his dealings with me.
“He would raise dust over trivial issues and descend on me with punches.
“Many times I went about with bruises which left scars on my body after healing.
“I kept the incidents of his several assaults on me from my family members and friends because I thought he would change.
“Lekan beat me to a pulp when our first child was just three months old and I was rushed to the hospital.
“I lied to my parents that I slipped and fell in the bathroom when they came to check on me.
“Lekan never cared about our children’s feeling. They cry whenever he beat me and would rush and cling to me.
“My husband not touched by their wailing would go ahead to hit them while beating me.
“There were times he tore my clothes in the presence of these children when fighting me and would leave me almost stark naked.
“My parents had on many occasions mediated in our differences and advised me to be patient.
“Lekan ….on this to frustrate me the more.
“I had our second and third child through caesarean operation. My husband fought and almost killed me after we had our third child.
“He threatened to kick me on the spot operated on and I had to run for my dear life.
“My husband shed his responsibility in the home and denied our children their needs.
“I played a dual role as mother and breadwinner to our children because my husband was not there.
“I moved out of his house when it was obvious he would kill me.
“My husband still not relenting in his maltreatment of me, now visits my shop to fight and destroy my goods.
“I got him arrested by the police the last time he did.
“My lord, I pray the court to end our marriage and grant me custody of our children, but make him responsible for their upkeep.
“I also want the court to stop him from coming to my shop to fight and destroy my goods.
The president of the court, Mrs S.M Akintayo, adjourned the case till August 10.
