CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

The 16-year old marriage between a couple, Mr. Ibhanesebhor Matthew and his wife, Angela, has crashed after the man attacked and battered the wife for denying him sex for over two years in their matrimonial home in Lagos.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the alleged assault happened at their Obadore home in the Igando area of Lagos where they resided and had a property.

Mr. Matthew was angry and had lamented that he had not slept with his wife over the years as Angela told him that she did not have any emotional and sexual feeling for him any longer.

However, they were still staying in the same house as a couple but were cooking, eating separately, not talking to each other and sleeping in different room for those years.

The 54-year old Matthew then filed a divorce suit before the court and informed his siblings what he was passing through and Angela had refused to leave his home despite the harsh treatment on him. It was learnt that some of his siblings then visited his home, jointly battered Angela and sent her packing.

The matter was reported at the Igando Police Division. Matthew and his sister Christiana were arrested and charged before Ejigbo Magistrates court on Tuesday and remanded in prison custody.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that Matthew and Angela met each other in Lagos as public servants, got married some years ago and had only a female child. Mr. Matthew hailed from Esan in Edo State while Angela was from Agu Nri in Anambra State.

P.M.EXPRESS scooped that things became worse after they could not get more children after trying for almost 14 years and Angela was said to be fed up with the trials without getting pregnant. She then decided to concentrate on church activities in her Catholic faith where they got wedded.

Matthew was also said to be fed up and wanted Angela to go but it had been difficult because of their church wedding. He was said to have sought the assistance of his family members; Angela was attacked, flogged with a pipe and sent away.

However, Matthew and his sister Christiana were charged for conspiracy and assault and they pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Mr. Inspector G Simon did not object their bail conditions.

Thus, the Presiding Magistrate, Mr. T.O. Shomade granted them bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety each in like sum.

They were remanded in prison custody pending when they will perfect their bail condition.
The matter was adjourned till 4 July, 2018.