A man has approached a Meiran customary court in Lagos, seeking the dissolution of his marriage to his wife on the ground of constant argument, public disgrace, alcoholism and extramarital affairs.

The petitioner, Awofemi Ogunsakin, who is traditional medicine practitioner and Basegun General of Merian, Agbado area of the state, said,

‘We fight every day because she is quarrelsome. She also sells drugs and as a chief in my area, it was something unheard of. I begged her to stop but she refused.

“On one occasion, she left home for five days when I reported her to her mother, she pleaded that since I’m her third husband, I should bear with her. She already had four children from two different men before I married her, yet I take care of her children. She has a senior wife, yet she fights everybody in the neighbourhood. I went to report her at Meiran Police Station, all to no avail.

“Though she is yet to have any child for me, she brings men into our matrimonial home. She is also a thief and wanted to put me to shame in the community when she stole handsets at a party. Any little argument, she would take a broken bottle and threaten to kill me. My family members have abandoned me because of her.”

Awofemi lamented that though they got married four years ago, he has never had a moment of peace ever since.

“I even reported her at Meiran Police Station; she was charged for assault but she did not change. She takes tramadol and cocaine. I married her to change her life but she is not willing to change. Please, I love her no more,” he said.

Awofemi was in court with his 23-year-old son, Samuel Ogunsakin, as a witness. The younger Ogunsakin said,

“Though we never supported our father marrying his new wife but we had no choice.

My father likes her a lot and was ready to change her lifestyle for good. It was true that she broke all the house glass windows when there was a misunderstanding between the two of them.

There was a day she poured petrol on my dad and wanted to set him ablaze. It was our timely intervention that saved the day. The Oba of Meiran intervened then, instructing my dad to send his new wife away but he refused, claiming that he loves her.”

The respondent Basirat Ogunsakin said all the claims were not true.

She said,

“He has married four wives before me; his family members did not like me.

I paid for the land which he built for me but he never gave me the receipt. I broke his house windows when he destroyed my own building. He drinks a lot despite the fact that he is a chief. He also beats me a lot and the senior wife.

He cannot control two wives even as a Chief.

I also don’t love him any longer, but the land and the house in question, I want this court to ask him to sell it so that we can share the money.”

The vice-president of the court, Mr. Sonoiki Samuel adjourned the case till 21st of May.