A Grade A Customary Court sitting at Mapo in Ibadan, Oyo State, has heard a divorce case involving a pastor, Abayomi, and his wife of 25 years, Abosede, following allegations of infidelity and persistent marital conflicts.
Abayomi approached the court seeking the dissolution of the marriage, accusing his wife of being aggressive, troublesome and constantly engaging him in fights. He told the court that he had never enjoyed peace of mind throughout their 25-year union.
According to him, disagreements were frequent as both of them hardly saw eye to eye on issues. He alleged that his wife often created tension in the home through her behaviour and claimed that relatives, friends and fellow pastors had repeatedly intervened to settle their disputes without success.
Abayomi further alleged that Abosede sometimes bit him during fights and on several occasions locked him out of their house. He added that the last incident occurred after an argument when she allegedly attacked him and refused him entry into the house, forcing them to live separately since then.
He told the court that their relationship had broken down irretrievably and asked that the marriage be dissolved.
However, Abosede, while agreeing to the divorce, gave a different account of the breakdown of the marriage. She said their relationship was initially peaceful until her husband allegedly impregnated a young female member of his church.
She told the court that she was shocked when she discovered the pregnancy, which triggered serious disagreements between them.
Abosede explained that she had accepted Abayomi’s marriage proposal partly because he was a pastor, believing it would bring stability to their home. She said they had both a traditional wedding and a church ceremony and were issued a marriage certificate by the church.
She alleged that after the incident, her husband neglected her and showed little concern for her well-being, even when she was ill. She also denied ever locking him out of the house, claiming instead that he moved in with the woman after she gave birth to his child.
According to her, several attempts by relatives, friends and Abayomi’s co-pastors to reconcile them failed because he had already expressed his intention to end the marriage.
President of the court, Mrs. S.M. Akintayo, adjourned the case for judgment.
Source: Tribune Online
