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It was a clear case of love gone sour for 52 year old man, James Igboayaka as he recently stormed Grade A customary court, sitting at Ojo, Lagos, determined to the teeth to dissolve his 28-year old union with his 47-year -old wife, Ngozi on the issues of infidelity.
Igboayaka, who is already a grandfather gave evidence, before the members of the court, stating that he had co-habited with his wife for long before he formally paid her bride price three years ago.
However, he dragged her to court based on assumption of infidelity, saying although he had not caught Ngozi red-handed with another man but has seen her on several occasions with male friends at odd hours.
He also said that his wife, had even ordered one of them to slap him, if he asked him any questions concerning their illicit affair.
He told the court that whenever he queried his wife on her gross disobedience and infidelity, she would turn it to into a serious fight.
Igboayaka, who said that they were blessed with seven children and 2 grandchildren said: “She is sleeping around with small small boys. I haven't caught her red-handed but i know. She has also turned the children against me, They now misbehave to the extent, that they don’t care if am in the house or not. They just do whatever they like. They cannot even fetch water for me to take my bath, not to talk of washing my dirty clothes."
Igboayaka, who was visibly shaken, while giving evidence, said that there was no more love and care in the marriage and that his life was being threatened, as his wife had predicted when he will die, but that he could not remember the exact date she told him,.
According to him, he married his wife, when she was barely 19 years old, adding that he did not see anything that attracted him to marry her, except for the urge of getting married and that it was his parents that got his wife for him.
He further added that when his first daughter finished secondary school, he bought her JAMB form, so that she could further her education, but after the exam, he didn’t know if she passed or not, as she refused to give him a specific answer to the question.
“Even after the mother took her away from home and the Reverend father of our church asked her to bring her back, I still asked her what she wanted to do with her life because as a woman, if she didn’t go to school, she should be able to learn a trade.
When asked why four of his children, were not in school, he said he was still struggling to make money so he can send them to school. He added that if the court dissolves the marriage and grants him custody of the children, he would be able to provide for them and that his wife of 28 years could go back to her parents because “that is how it is done.”
The court President gave orders that the petitioner's wife will not leave his house, until he provided her another accommodation, having wasted her life for the past 28 years.
He also said that he will not get judgment from the court, until he adequately takes care of his wife and also puts the children in school.
The matter was adjourned for further hearing.
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