A pastor, Akorede, has filed for divorce from his wife, Damilola, at the Grade A Customary Court sitting in Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, citing incessant quarrels, domestic violence, and threats to his life as reasons for seeking the dissolution of their marriage.
Akorede told the court that his wife denied him peace of mind and made his life unbearable.
He alleged that Damilola was always confrontational and frequently engaged him in fights whenever disagreements arose.
According to the plaintiff, his wife often threatened him with a knife during arguments.
He further alleged that on one occasion, Damilola brandished a cutlass at him inside their church in the presence of co-pastors and the entire congregation, causing him public embarrassment.
Akorede also accused his wife of being financially irresponsible and wasteful.
He stated that she was a glutton and that she consumed unusually large portions of food and regularly served herself the biggest pieces of meat during meals.
In addition to seeking the dissolution of the marriage, Akorede asked the court to grant him custody of their children, arguing that his wife lacked the virtues required to raise them.
He requested an order restraining Damilola from harassing, threatening, or interfering with his privacy.
Damilola denied all the allegations leveled against her but agreed that the marriage should be dissolved.
She told the court she regretted marrying Akorede, explaining that she had believed he would be faithful and committed because he is a minister of God.
She further alleged that she was devastated after discovering that her husband had impregnated an 18-year-old member of his congregation.
The defendant opposed her husband’s request for custody of the children and urged the court to grant her custody instead.
She also appealed to the court to compel Akorede to take full responsibility for the children’s welfare, including their feeding, education, and health care.
Akorede, in his evidence, told the court: “My wife and I did not hold a wedding ceremony. We were only prayed for in church before we started living together as husband and wife.
“I realised too late that my wife’s mission in marrying me was to destroy my ministry.
“Damola is a devil in disguise. I enjoyed no peace in our marriage because of her troublesome nature.
“She was always on my neck, raised issues over trivial matters, and would fight me at every opportunity.
“Whenever we had any argument, she would become violent and draw a knife on me.
“I lived in fear under the same roof with her. Instead of showing remorse, she became worse.
“During one Sunday service, she created a scene in the church, almost ruining my ministerial calling.
“She made me a laughing stock before my co-pastors and the entire congregation when she threatened me with a cutlass during the service.
“After that incident, I moved out of our home because it was obvious that my life was no longer safe with her.
“Sincerely, I had already become fed up with the marriage before then.
“Apart from being financially irresponsible, she is also a glutton.
“She would serve herself large portions of food at every meal and always took the biggest pieces of meat.
“My lord, I plead for custody of our children because she lacks the virtues required to raise them properly.
“I also seek an order restraining her from harassing, threatening, or interfering with my private life.”
Responding, Damilola said: “Everything my husband has said about me is false. I am also tired of the marriage and I consent to the divorce.
“I married him because I believed that, as a servant of God, he would remain faithful and committed to me.
“He betrayed my trust by impregnating an 18-year-old member of our congregation.
“I urge this honourable court to dismiss my husband’s request for custody of our children.
“I pray the court to grant me custody and order my husband to take responsibility for the children’s welfare, with priority given to their feeding, education, and healthcare.”
The president of the court, Mrs O.E Owoseni, giving her judgment, stated that their was no marriage to be dissolved because no customary marriage held between the two and the bride price was not paid.
According to her, they were merely co-habiting.
She granted the plaintiff custody of their child and ordered the defendant to be responsible for his upkeep, giving him N15,000 per month for food.
