An Igando Customary Court in Lagos on Wednesday intervened and saved a 13-year-old marriage between a cleric, Saliu Oshioyemi and his wife, Esther, over alleged attempt by the wife to kill herself.
The court’s President, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, successfully resolved the differences between the estranged couple after several adjournments and interventions.
Omilola while striking out the case, admonished the couple to maintain peace and continue to live in peace and harmony.
“Since the court was able to reconcile the couple through thorough counselling, I urged both of you to go home and live in peace and love.”
The petitioner, Oshioyemi, 55, had approached the court to seek an end to his 13-year-old marriage for alleged attempt to kill herself.
“My wife is always threatening to kill herself whenever I do not have money to give her.
“There was a day she called her son and was telling him that she wanted to die, urging him to take care of himself.
“I rushed out and saw that she was about to drink an insecticide.
“I later gave her the money she requested for because I do not just want to be tagged a murderer,’’ Oshioyemi said.
Oshioyemi told the court that his wife, Esther, was always in debt.
“She used to secure loans for her business and always asked me to pay. She once brought a bank manager to me so that l can sign a loan document.
“She also went to LAPO Microfinance Bank for a loan without my consent. I was the one that paid the money.
“Of recent, she went to my landlord to borrow N27,000, claiming that I was the one who sent her because I was in distress.
“My landlord later asked me for the money after some months and I told him I do not know anything about it.’’
He said that his wife used to accuse him of having love affairs with his female clients.
“I am a cleric and these women come for spiritual help but my wife chased them away, claiming that I am having affairs with them.
“I do not have money again because they stopped patronising me,’’ Oshioyemi said.
He said Esther was troublesome and each time they had misunderstanding, she would hit him first, and tore his clothes.
He added:“I do not have peace again and that led to my present health condition. I am currently having high blood pressure.
“I left the house to lodge in a hotel when my doctor advised me to rest and keep away from her troubles.’’
Oshioyemi urged the court to end the marriage because he was no longer interested.
Esther admitted that she used to borrow money, but she only asked her husband to pay whenever she could not pay back.
“Whenever I cannot pay back the loan I obtained, I used to beg my husband to pay on my behalf.’’
“I only queried him on a particular client who comes regularly and stay with my husband from morning till night.’’
Esther, however, denied attempting to take her life, fight or tear her husband’s clothes.
She urged the court not to grant her husband’s request for the dissolution of the marriage, saying “I am still in love with him.’’
