A bricklayer, Owolabi Adetunji, has prayed a Mapo Grade A Customary Court in Ibadan to dissolve his nine-year-old marriage to his estranged wife, Senebu, over her alleged attempt to illegally sell off his house.
Adetunji, a resident of Moniya area of Ibadan, told the court that his wife’s attitude suddenly changed after he had allowed her to change from selling soap to palm wine.
He said that her wife’s behaviour got worse, to the extent that she became adulterous and started bringing men into their matrimonial home.
“My lord, things were going on well after I paid N60,000 equivalent dowry to Senebu’s parents living in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
“However, soon after I granted her the permission to start selling palm wine, she became so troublesome, misbehaving uncontrollably.
“Senebu was usually nagging and always picking quarrel with my first wife and did not even want to see her step-children face-to-face.
“Worst still, she is threatening to sell the house I built with my sweat.
“In fact, I have no rest of mind and I have been forced to abandon the house since May 2024,”Adetunji said.
Senebu was, however not in court when she was called for defence, with the case suffering series of adjournments owing to her refusal to honour court’s invitations.
Delivering judgment, the court’s President, Mrs S.M. Akintayo, pronounced the marriage dissolved on grounds that Adetunji could not be forced to continue with the marriage against his wish.
Akintayo awarded custody of the two children produced by the union to Senebu, as against Adetunji’s prayer.
She based her judgment on the fact that the children were still very young and would require the care and affection of their mother.
Akintayo ordered the petitioner to be responsible for the education and other maintenance of the children.
She also ordered that Adetunji must be given ‘reasonable access’ to the children.
