“My father-in-law sent me packing from my matrimonial home over my inability to pay house rent,’’ a 40-year-old Information Technologist, Mr Samuel Bankole, told an Igando Customary Court on Tuesday in Lagos.
The petitioner, 32-year-old Iyabo, a trader, had filed a suit seeking the dissolution of her five-year old marriage over lack of care and threat to life.
Bankole told the court that his father-in-law forced him out because he was unable to pay the house rent.
“My wife always paid the rent because I am not buoyant enough. The last rent was paid by my father-in-law who had been threatening me to vacate the house or to go and commit suicide.
“On that fateful day, he came with a thug, beat me up and threw my belongings out; he also got me arrested by the police and I had to pass a night in the cell before my father bailed me out,’’ he said.
The husband said his wife, a mother of three, was involved in extra marital affairs.
He said:“My wife is cheating on me; I read her chat on her phone and I discovered she was having an affair with a man.
“I confronted her and showed her the conversations and she could not give me a satisfactory explanation.
“My wife always prayed for evil to befall me. I hear her calling my name and praying that it should not be well with me especially in the night.’’
He urged the court not to grant his wife’s wish and that he still loved her.
In her response, the wife said the man was an “irresponsible’’ husband and father.
“My husband is working but he keeps telling me that he does not have money; I have been paying the house rent since we got married and also paying the children’s school fees.
“When the rent for the two-bedroom flat I first rented was due, my husband disappeared from the house with all his belongings to an unknown destination and I was pregnant then.
“I do not have money so I have to sell my late mother’s property to pay for my ante-natal and to feed myself.
“I was in the hospital for six days because I could not pay; I was released only after my father came to pay the bill.
“I stayed with my father for nine months before moving into another flat rented for me by my father.’’
She told the court that her husband once attempted to kill her by covering her nose and mouth with cloth but that she was rescued by neighbours.
“Once his girlfriends came to my house around 11 p.m. to beat me up; he also beats me whenever he sees me talking with male customers or whenever he reads my chat with a male friend on phone.
“I have several scars on my body as result of constant beating by him,’’ Iyabo said.
She pleaded with the court to dissolve the marriage, stressing that she wanted to live to take care of her children.
The President of the court, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, adjourned further hearing in the case till November 4.
