Mr. Kazeem Yekini, a man seeking a divorce, claimed to be blackmailed and harassed by his wife before a Mapo Grade A Customary Court in Ibadan on Thursday.
He begged the court to end his marriage to Opeyemi, his estranged wife, claiming that the relationship had destroyed his life.
He claimed that Opeyemi had a history of using blackmail to harm him wherever he went and ruining his reputation.
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Yekini said that his wife had put him under a spell that had caused him great suffering and promised to keep blackmailing him throughout Ibadan.
“As if all of this wasn’t enough, she confines me to a room and keeps me from going about my everyday business.
Yekini claimed, “She also took my car keys and invited the Amotekun’ corps, the Southwest’s security network, to deal with me without cause.”
He testified in court that family members and neighbours never tried to step in “because they are afraid of her.”
During cross-examination, Opeyemi did not refute any of the accusations made against her.
Rather, she implored the court to assist her in reaching a peaceful conclusion.
It is accurate to say that I have been battling with my spouse for no reason at all.
But I did all in my power to appease him before he made the decision to appear in court, and he would not hear my cries for forgiveness.
Opeyemi implored the court to give her custody of their only child “if he sticks to his position.”
The couple’s marriage was not legally consummated, according to Mrs. S.M. Akintayo, the court president, who made this observation in her ruling.
She emphasised that there was no proof presented to the court that Yekini paid Opeyemi’s bride price during their cohabitation.
She went on to say that until Yekini and Opeyemi began living as husband and wife, other requirements specified by customary law for a lawful marriage were not given.
She came to the conclusion that there was never a marriage that needed to be dissolved.
Akintayo gave Opeyemi custody of the union’s lone child and mandated that Yekini provide N10,000 per month for the child’s maintenance.
She gave the two the all-clear to go their separate ways as long as they kept the peace. (NAN)
