A businesswoman, Memunat Adeoye, has sought from the Mapo Grade A Customary Court in Ibadan an end to the five-year-old union to her estranged ‘husband’ Abdullateef on the grounds of poor feeding and lack of care.

Ms Adeoye, a mother of one, told the court that when she got pregnant for the man, he asked her to move in with his parents.

“Living with my inlaws was uncomfortable for me. He has never bought any baby food. He gives me N1,000 as a weekly feeding allowance. As if that was not enough, Abdullateef’s relatives have been very hostile to me,” she said.

She alleged that he assaulted her.

“In fact, my Lord, there is no love between us. Please separate us,” Ms Adeoye said.

The ‘husband’, a farmer, denied most of the allegations.

“My wife is rude. She calls me unprintable names and curses me. I give her N1000 because there is always food in the house. 

“I will only allow her to take custody of the child on grounds that she will not put the child in her mother’s care,” he submitted.

Delivering judgment, the president of the court, S.M. Akintayo, held that there was no valid marriage to be dissolved between the couple due to the absence of payment of bride price and other essential things required for a valid customary marriage.

Ms Akintayo noted that the couple testified that no bride price was paid according to traditional rules.

“This means that their togetherness has all along been a mere cohabitation,” she said.

However, she ordered the man to pay a monthly feeding allowance of N5,000 for the child’s upkeep.

The court’s president granted the order restraining the respondent from harassing, threatening, and interfering in the petitioner’s personal life. 

(NAN)