Court Dissolves 10-Year-Old Marriage Over Wife’s Stealing Habit

An Ikorodu Customary Court in Lagos on Friday dissolved a 10-year-old marriage over the woman’s penchant for stealing.

The plaintiff, Olawale Akanji, who resides at Akinwale Street, Igbogbo, Ikorodu, Lagos, had filed an application seeking to divorce his wife, Afusat, over her stealing habit, disobedience and adultery.

In the application filed at the court in October 2014, Akanji, a carpenter, said he could no longer tolerate his wife in the house.
Akanji, 34, said the latest incident, which informed his decision to seek divorce was the pregnancy his wife was carrying that he suspected did not belong to him.

The complainant, who also alleged that Afusat, 33, was always stealing his money from his wardrobe, urged the court to dissolve the marriage.
The respondent, a hairdresser, denied all the allegations.

“I don’t steal my husband’s money, even though he is very tight-fisted. He gives us N300 feeding allowance daily and I would be the one to feed his aged mother and father that live with us.I usually fetch water for sale, that is where I get money to feed the family.
He is always thinking that I am stealing his money or I have been engaging in extra-marital affairs, please help me save my marriage,” she said.

Delivering judgment, the president of the court, Olu Adebiyi, said he was convinced that the couple could no longer live together as the petitioner insisted on divorce after several interventions.

Adebiyi ordered the parties to go their separate ways. He also ruled that the petitioner should enroll the defendant in ante-natal clinic.
“The paternity of the pregnancy cannot be established now until a DNA test proves its ownership after delivery,” he said.

He further directed that Akanji should pay for the accommodation of the woman and be responsible for the schooling, feeding and medical allowances of their two children.

Source: NAN