Two Lagos-based lawyers, Kemi Ojo and Comfort Daniel, on Tuesday, urged women not to remain in abusive marriages to avoid untimely death.

The lawyers who spoke with journalists, enjoined female or male spouses being abused by their partners to leave the relationships.

Mrs Ojo noted that religion had made some spouses remain in abusive marriages for fear of being castigated and ostracised.

“Some clerics will tell you if you can’t hold your marriage, you have failed God.

“Sometimes, we abuse the slogan ‘for better for worse’; this slogan should be considered in health and financial situations and not in abuse.

“You are the one feeling the pains and not the cleric; sometimes, brief separation could be the remedy to abusive relationships.

“Prayer points may not change a partner who already signed with the devil to torment your life,’’ she stressed.

Similarly, Mrs Daniel, in a separate interview, admonished women in abusive marriages to flee before losing their lives.

“If the man is not ready to change but is rather getting worse then separate, even if it involves going back to your parents’ house; do it,’’ she said.

The lawyer also noted that since marriage is not a do-or-die affair, spouses should part ways when physical abuse takes centre stage.

She urged parents, especially in parts of the country that hold cultures sacrosanct, to change their ways.

She explained that those who believe that once a lady gets married, she could no longer return to her parents’ house should have a rethink.

“Always give your daughter a coming back chance. It’s always better for your daughters to return alive than to return as corpses,’’ she advised.

Mrs Daniel stressed that violence in marriages required the attention of faith-based organisations, families and governments. 

(NAN)