‘My husband nearly raped my half sister’

‘My husband nearly raped my half sister’

An Ado-Ekiti Customary Court in Ekiti State, has dissolved a 15-year-old marriage between Margaret Ojo and her husband, Bamidele.

The case first came up for mention on Feburary 10.

The marriage was dissolved on grounds of frequent fight, lack of respect for the wife’s family and lack of care for the wife and children by her husband.

Thirty-seven-year-old Margaret stated that whenever her husband asked her for money and she refused to give him, he would beat the hell out of her.

The mother of four told the court that there was a time she was duped by her husband and his friends, and when she asked for a refund, her husband beat her.

Margaret added that Bamidele had no respect for her family.

“There was never a time he gave my parents money as his in-law, while I would always send money to his parentsand even buy them clothes.

‘Bamidele once nearly raped my half-sister when I was not around,” she said.

But 41-year-old Bamidele while responding told the court that he never beat his wife.

According to him, on many occasions Magaret would refused to cook for the children and that he would do the cooking instead.

He added that he had always given his wife’s family members the respect they deserved.

Bamidele also stated that he had been doing his best in taking care of Magaret and their children with the meagre salary he was earning.

The court president, Mr Joseph Ogunsemi, in his judgment, observed that the marriage had broken down irretrievably and consequently dissolved it.

Ogunsemi awarded custody of the first three children to Bamidele and that of the last child to Margaret.

He stated that both parents should be responsible for the payment of their children’s school fees.

He also ordered Bamidele to pay N1,000 as monthly allowance for the upkeep of the last child.

Ogunsemi also granted both parents access to their children.