My marriage is full of agony, beatings and hunger – Wife tells court

Court dissolves 20-year-old marriage.

A 20-year-old marriage between Nike Alufoso and Tunde Alufoso was on Thursday, dissolved by a Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, over battering and threats to life.

Nike narrated to court how her husband, Tunde, had made life unbearable for her over serial beatings and other assaults.

“My lord had I known that there was more to living with Tunde as a wife, maybe I would have had a rethink 20 years ago when I chose him as a husband. I can only summarise my experience with Tunde as one characterised by agony, battery, shame, disrespect, hunger and lots more.

“Anytime there was a minor disagreement between Tunde and me, he would strip me naked in the neighbourhood and unleash mayhem on me. The last one he did this month was when he inflicted serious injury on one of our daughters with a broom. After beating up the little girl, I had to start removing pieces of the broomsticks that had penetrated her skin,” she recounted.

Nike said her husband beat his mother up when she asked him why he inflicted such injuries on the girl.

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“Besides, he is in no way responsible because he does not cater for the welfare and education of the children. In fact, he threatened that if he sees me or any member of my family in court, he will definitely kill us today. I no longer want to have anything to do with Tunde, please separate us,” Nike pleaded.

Tunde, however, admitted most of the allegations levelled against him, prayed that the court grant him custody of the two children.

He told the court his own side of the story, saying, “My lord, Nike’s mother is the major problem in our union because she keeps misleading her against my wish. Every now and then, Nike’s mother is always loitering around our house.

“Then, I asked Nike why her mother did not want us to have a breathing space. That is why they all teamed up against me. It is true that I beat my child, but it was because I saw blood flowing out from her private part.

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“Nike did not inform me on time that our daughter had already started menstruating while I thought that someone somewhere had deflowered her. If it is her choice to leave, let it be.”

Chief Ademola Odunade, the president of the court, therefore, terminated the union in the interest of peaceful living.

He granted the custody of the two children to Nike and ordered Tunde to pay a monthly feeding allowance of ₦5,000 for their upkeep, adding that he should also be responsible for the education and other welfare of the children.