An Igando Customary Court in Lagos yesterday dissolved the 20-year-old marriage of Mr and Mrs Demola Lawal because of the husband’s insanity.
The petitioner, Mrs Abosede Lawal, sought
dissolution of the marriage, citing her husband’s
mental sickness, threat to her life and
irresponsible acts.
She said she discovered her husband had mental
sickness after she had her first baby.
“My husband is mentally sick, I have stayed with
him for 20 years, thinking he would get well, he
always exhibits his madness by destroying our
household items and misbehaving.
“I discovered after I had my first baby but I
decided to stay praying to God to cure him of the
illness,” Abosede, a designer said.
She also accused her husband of always
threatening her with acid and dangerous
weapons.
“My husband brought acid home and he always threatens to pour it on me saying that he wanted to disfigure me so that I will look unattractive to people,” she said.
She said: “My husband refused to take care of the family. I pay our bills because anytime I asked him for feeding money or the children’s school fees, he beats me up.
Lawal, a 47-year old automobile technician,
agreed that he is insane, saying his wife wanted
to divorce him because of his sickness.
“My wife wanted to quit our marriage just
because of my state of health, I believe God will
heal me one day,” he said.
Delivering judgment, the court’s President, Mr
Hakeem Oyekan, said it appeared that the parties
were tired of the marriage, adding that efforts to
reconcile them have failed.