by Rachel Ogbu

Despite a woman’s cry for help, a domestic violence case was recently adjourned in Lagos.

39 year old Funmilayo Landa who had a sense of urgency in her story pleaded with the Agege Customary Court to end her two-year marriage with Toyin after she recounted how her husband often beat her and threatened her with a knife.

Even though her family has tried to stop the abuse, Landa said the abuse still continued and sometimes during the beating, he would pull out a knife or any other weapon he found handy.

Landa who is a tailor expressed sadness that no one seems to be acting quick enough and she feared for her life. She had reported him at the Agbelekale Police Station, Abule-Egba and the police asked her to go and call him but he did not answer.

She stated that no policeman accompanied her to her husband. “They just collected my statement and later put the blame on me. They said that I was probably beaten because I was wayward.”

The couple’s union has produced a son, who is about a year and three months old.

 Landa told the court that she worked hard and her husband always demanded money from her.

“While growing up, I was made to understand that a man gives the woman money. In my case, whenever I work, he comes and asks for money from me,” she said.

Although he is not a pastor, he is referred to by his friends and family members as pastor because he works in a church environment.

The tailor told the court that the church had intervened in their disagreements several times but all to no avail.

She urged the court to grant her a divorce and tell her husband to let her pack her things from their house.

She said when she went to pack her belongings; he did not allow her, saying that he did not want to divorce her.

Although Toyin had been invited to the court about four times, he had never shown up. Landa told the court to grant her the custody of her child.

The case was adjourned till November 28 for judgment.