by Akan Ido

A food vendor, Oluwashola Kehinde has dragged her husband before a Alakuko Customary Court for being an irresponsible husband and father.

The 37-year-old woman asked the court to dissolve their marriage of 18 years accusing her 45-year-old husband, Moruf, of often disappearing whenever she is pregnant.

According to her, Moruf started having extramarital affairs only months after their marriage and she cannot take the mistreatment any longer.

She said: “My husband started committing adultery a few months after our wedding.

“ He sent me out of the home because I accused him of womanising. It was most saddening because I was already carrying a seven-month pregnancy then.

“ His attitude is somewhat strange. He always blows hot and cold; he is very unpredictable. My sister, out of anger, once bit him hard because he is fond of beating me. That is the story behind the deep cut on his back.

“At some point, I returned to his house after several pleas from his relations who assured me that he had changed. But the situation got worse as he had  formed the habit of disappearing from  home whenever I got pregnant.

“ He would leave home for over two months on the excuse that he was broke. Even when he had money, he would only buy his own food and eat it alone, not minding how we survive. He is a callous man.

“My husband once came home 12 days after he angrily left the house, pleading for forgiveness. He said if I wasn’t ready to forgive him, he would kill himself. I went to bed, thinking he was joking. Surprisingly, he  hung himself to the ceiling fan in the room. He kicked the jerry can he stood on and urinated on his body. By that time, he was almost lifeless. So, I quickly used a knife to cut the rope before I called our neighbours.

“He came around about 30 minutes after. Till date, I keep asking what would have happened if he had died in the process,” she said.

According to her,  they were given a quit notice when her husband couldn’t pay the  house  rent for months.

She added: “It was at that time that he took a few clothes and left the house. For almost two years that we have lived as a couple, my husband never  asked  after the wellbeing of our children. Tis made my sister to take custody of two of our children.

“I am tired of the relationship. None of his relations knows what I am going through. I don’t want the marriage anymore; I only want him to cater for our children’s education.”

Moruf responded to he allegations against him saying the lack of money is usually the source of their disagreement.

According to him, “Frustration led me to attempt suicide.

“ I wasn’t happy for the fact my wife was the only one responsible for our children’s upkeep. But I give her money when I have.

“ When I was driving a private vehicle, we never had problems and everything was almost perfect. Money is always the cause of our argument.

“I left the house after the incident because her mum said my wife needed some respite.

“At times, she would not give me food and each time I slept beside her, she would  leave the bed. Contrary to what she said, there is no scar on my back.

“The rope I used in hanging myself was the one my wife asked me to buy for the clothes line. I was  tortured psychologically. But I have learnt my mistakes.

”I still love my wife because she has been good to me and I promise to turn over a new leaf,” he said.

The court president, Awos Awosola, advised the couple to maintain peace and obey the law. He adjourned the case till October 30.