A housewife, Maria Adoga, on Tuesday told an upper area court in Makurdi that her husband of nine years, Moses, was an alcohol addict who abused her.

Mrs Odoga, in a divorce petition, said she got married to Mr Moses in 2013 under the Idoma Tradition Laws and later had a church wedding at St. John Bosco Catholic Church, Ugbokolo in Okpokwu LGA, but the marriage has broken down irretrievably.

She said the marriage is blessed with three children aged seven, five and eight months.

“During our courtship and early part of the marriage, the respondent was so loving until he started being hostile towards me.

“The respondent beats me mercilessly without any provocation. I have reported multiple injuries, and I can’t bear them anymore.

“He drinks all sorts of alcohol and misbehaves in our matrimonial home in the presence of the children and neighbours,” she said 

The petitioner also said the respondent was in the habit of abandoning their matrimonial home for weeks once he received his monthly salary.

She further alleged that the respondent does not pay rent and has abandoned his responsibilities as a father and husband.

Also, she claimed her husband showed symptoms of a mental disorder in 2020, adding that her children were no longer safe.

She prayed the court to order for a decree of judicial separation and also grant her custody of the three children.

The petitioner asked for the sum of N300,000 annually for the children’s school fees and welfare and a monthly maintenance allowance of N50,000.

In his defence, Mr Moses said, “We are in the process of settling the matter out of court.”

The magistrate, Vershima Hwande, adjourned the case until January 23 for a report of the out-of-court settlement. 

(NAN)