A 24-year-old woman, Aminat Ibrahim, on Thursday approached a Lagos Island Customary Court for the dissolution of her seven-year-old marriage over constant battery.
The mother of three pleaded with the court to dissolve her marriage to Moruf Ibrahim on the grounds that she could no
longer withstand the beating she always received.
“The beating and maltreatment I am getting from my husband is too much for my age.
“My husband and I started dating when I was 15-year-old from when we met at his shop where I usually helped my mother to
sell food.
“We got married when I got pregnant at age 16 in 2009, after I completed my secondary school education,’’ she told the court in tears.
Aminat said the marriage was blissful until when the beating began in 2011 after he brought his grandmother, who was seriously ill then to their one room apartment for her to nurse her.
“He beats me at any slight mistake, he is impatient, he does not consult me in any decision making on issues that concerns our family.
“He disregards and insults my parents at will, all our neighbours know him for his bully nature and avoided him.
“On several occasions, he had beaten some of our neighbours that tried to intervene when he was beating me regardless of their age and gender.
“I have endured this marriage because of my three girls, but the beating is too much for my age, he beats me mercilessly,’’ she said.
The petitioner said that she had left her matrimonial home due to the constant abuse by her husband.
“I have left the house for him and now stays with my parents, I want a dissolution if he is not ready to change,’’ Aminat pleaded with the court.
Moruf, 34, in his response, however, did not deny the allegations by his wife.
He told the court that the petitioner always disobeyed his instructions which usually results to quarrels.
Moruf, a building materials dealer told the court that whenever he gave his wife
specific instructions, she will refuse to adhere to them, adding that she like to do her will.
“I take good care of her and the kids and I expect my wife’s respect and obedience,’’ he said.
Mr Awos Awosola, the court’s President, urged parents, especially mothers to stop sending their young girls to hawk
thereby making them prey for men.
“You met her while hawking food for her mother, impregnated and married her; you have no value for her and beat her at any slight provocation.
“You are a bully Moruf, the Law of Lagos State does not condone wife beaters,’’ he said. Awosola admonished young girls to focus on their education and future.
“The institution of marriage is not something to be rushed into,’’ he said.
Mrs Opeyemi Olanrewaju, the court’s Deputy President, said that a woman was a delicate creature to be loved and cherished and not to be battered or turned into a punching bag.
“You saw and married this woman as a young girl and you exploited that youthfulness and turned her into your mother’s last born to be corrected at will,’’ she said.
Awosola ordered both parties to maintain peace and adjourned the case to Dec. 22 for further hearing.
