“My husband refused to work, his parents feed, clothed him” —Wife …”She is a slut, dated men in our neighbourhood” —Husband tells Court

A woman, Shukurat Abdulkaheem, has filed a divorce suit against her husband, Aremu Abdulkaheem, whom she stated was a brute and an irresponsible man not ready to work.

Shukurat stated that Aremu had already impregnated her before she discovered that he was jobless and that it was his family who had been feeding, clothing and meeting all his other needs.

The plaintiff added that the defendant neglected her during pregnancies and constantly starved her and their children.

She further said that the defendant never showed appreciation for the efforts she made in making things go on well in the home.

According to Shukurat, the reward she got from Aremu for her endurance of the hardship she was facing in their marriage was regular slaps and beatings even in the presence of their children.

She told the court she walked out of their marriage after he succeeded in frustrating her.

Shukurat thus pleaded for the custody of their children, but requested that her husband be made responsible for their upkeep.

Aremu, denied all the allegations Shukurat brought against him, but agreed to divorce.

Aremu who stated that he was a footballer, explained that the relationship between him and his wife went sour after he had an injury and could no longer play football.

The defendant told the court that he carried out odd jobs in order to ensure that his wife and children did not suffer.

According to him, he later discovered she was dating people in their neighbourhood.

Shukurat in her evidence said, “I got married to my husband in 2009 after he impregnated me. We had Nikkah and my parents returned the bride price he paid on me.

“My husband was not sincere with me from the outset of our relationship. He never disclosed to me what he was doing for a living.

“I got the shock of my life a few weeks into our marriage, when I discovered he was jobless and that it was his family that was feeding and clothing him. They were the ones meeting virtually all his needs.

“My husband is a lay-about. He refused to take up jobs offered him. All he loved to do was to loaf around.

“He left me hungry on several occasions while I was carrying his pregnancies and neglected me.

“I developed chest pains in addition to constant hunger because I was always walking a distance to fetch water for the home.

“Any time I requested that he gave me a helping hand, he would bluntly refuse and asked that I sorted myself out.

“I endured a lot of hardship in our marriage. Despite his neglect of me, I still washed his clothes and gave him the necessary attention, but rather than being appreciative of my good gestures, he would always complain and on many occasions slap and beat me.

“My husband has no shame. He always dealt me blows in the presence of our children.

“Aremu always reported me to his mother any time I demanded that he stood up to his responsibility in the home. His mother always took to his side and would berate me for quarreling with her son.

“The first time I moved out of his home, he came with his family members to beg me.

“I went back to him, but saw no improvement in his way of life.

“I got frustrated one day and walked out of our marriage. I made up my mind there was no going back on my decision.

“I left for Lagos with our children and started working there.

“I made our children spend their vacation with him, and he refused that they returned to me.

“Aremu now denies me access to our children and has poisoned their minds against me. He has refused that I speak with them on the telephone.

“I paid our children a visit at my mother in-law’s place where they are presently living, and she shouted on me, thus calling the attention of people around to the scene.

“I left my mother in-law’s house sad because our children are not well taken care of.

“My lord, I beseech this honourable court to dissolve our marriage and grant me custody of our children so that I can give them adequate care.

“I also pray the court to enforce it that my husband be responsible for our children’s upkeep.”

Aremu, responding explained that, “I was a footballer when I met my wife. I stopped playing due to the injury I had on my leg which made me incapacitated for long.

“I found it difficult getting a good job after this, I, therefore, went for menial jobs like washing of petrol tankers at NNPC and the likes so that my family would not starve.

“My family members were supportive of us during my trying moment and did their best to ensure that my wife did not lack. They bought her foodstuff on regular basis and met some other needs.

“I finally got an appointment with a company in Lagos and always returned home every fortnight.

“Shukurat, seeing that I was not always around started having affairs with men in our neighbourhood. My ears were always filled with the news of her atrocities.

“What I found most disappointing about the whole issue was that her parents were in support of her indecent lifestyle.

“Shukurat has moved out of my house and I am no longer interested in her.

“My lord, I agree to divorce.”

The court president, Mrs S.M Akintayo adjourned the case.

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