My wife gets drunk, bed-wets and beats me to a pulp – Divorce-seeking man tells Oyo court

Grade A Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has adjourned for judgment, a divorce suit brought before it by a man, Saka, against his wife, Sadia, whom he accused of irresponsibility, drunkenness and domestic violence.

Saka stated that his marriage to Sadia truncated his joy and left him living a frustrated life.

According to the plaintiff, he gave the defendant N50, 000 to start a business, but that she spent it on alcohol.

Saka stated that Sadia, after dinking and getting drunk, would mess up their apartment and betwet.

He added that she would lock him up in their room and beat him to a pulp anytime he complained of her disgraceful act.

Saka further said that he had reported Sadia to the police on several occasions, but that she refused to change, which made him come to court.

The plaintiff, apart from divorce, requested an order restricting his wife from threatening and interfering with his private life.

Sadia told the court she was also fed up with the relationship between her and her husband.

She said her husband was selfish and that he reneged on his promise to take good care of her.

According to the defendant, the plaintiff gave her only N200 for food per day, while he would buy foodstuff and also cook stew and keep them in his room.

Sadia added that Saka was in the habit of sending his wives packing.

According to her, she was the seventh wife he was divorcing.

Saka, in his evidence, said, “My lord, my wife is a thorn in the flesh. She has ridiculed me enough. I want her out of my house and life. I have never met her parents. I only know her sister, which was why I did not pay her bride price. She moved in with me in 2020 and turned my life upside down.

“I gave her N50, 000 to empower her. I sat her down and enlightened her on the different businesses she could go into. I felt I was relating with a reasonable and sensible person, but this was not the case. My wife to my chagrin took to drinking. She could drink a barrel of beer in a day. She spent the N50, 000 I gave her on alcohol. 

“Sadia would go out without my consent and return home drunk. Our apartment and our room, especially, are filled with odour. My wife messes up our apartment whenever she’s drunk and also wets the bed. Our mattress stinks because she urinates on the bed. We quarrel over her misbehaviour on a regular basis, but she got worse rather than change.

“My wife is violent. She would lock me up many times in our bedroom during a fight and beat me to a pulp. I have got her arrested by the police on many occasions. The police, having gotten tired of us, advised that I come to court. My lord, I pray this court to dissolve our marriage before my wife kills me. I further request an order restraining her from threatening and interfering with my private life.”

Sadia responded, “My husband is a liar. He is callous and in the habit of sending his wives packing. I am the seventh wife he is throwing out of his house. I have been fending for myself since I started living with him. He gives me a mere N200 per day for food while he stocks his store with foodstuff.” 

“He also keeps stew away from me. My husband is a herbalist and an unfriendly fellow. He forbids that I interact with people in the neighbourhood. My lord, I am also tired of our marriage. I agree to divorce. I beseech the court to order him to get me another accommodation since I have nowhere to put my belongings.” 

The court president, Mrs S.M Akintayo after she had heard both parties adjourned the case for judgment.