A 70-year-old man, Mr. Tajudeen Giwa, has sought for the dissolution of his over 40-year-old marriage at an Ikorodu Customary Court sitting in Lagos State, claiming that his wife ignores and starves him of sex.
According to the complainant who resides at 1, Idiorogbo Village, Itokin Road, Ikorodu area of the state, his marriage is blessed with seven children: four males and three women, with the oldest male child being 39 years of age; the oldest female, 36 and the youngest, 16-year-old.
Giwa told the court: “Karimut does not care for me again; she denies me my matrimonial right to sleep with her. I am fed up with the marriage and I no longer love her.
“She gangs up with our children against me, to the extent that they threaten my life on her behalf,” Giwa added.
In her response, 63-year-old Karimut said the allegations by her husband were false, adding that although her husband did not care well enough for her and their children, she did not want to divorce him.
”My husband is not a reasonable man and is a very inconsiderate person. He sleeps around with other women and always threatens to chase me and the children away for no just cause.”
The President of the court, Mrs. Omolara Abiola, in her ruling, said that the court would do everything within its power to save the marriage which is more than 40 years old.
“This court is more focused on saving marriages and it befits it to try to secure this union rather than to dissolve a marriage of such age, with seven children, most of whom are above 30,” she said.
The president urged the petitioner and the respondent to maintain peace and harmony, pending the determination of the case.
The Court President added that Karimut should not ignore her husband as such action usually infuriates men, adding that some of the children should be present at the next hearing.
She adjourned the case to March 22. [myad]
