The marriage between Mrs G. Edet and her husband, Inspector D. Pius of the Nigerian Police Force was on Friday disolved by a Customary Court sitting in, Bwari, Abuja.
The petitioner, resident in Dutse Alhaji, Abuja had approached the court seeking divorce on grounds that she could no longer cope with her stingy and abusive husband.
Explaining to the court, the petitioner said:
“After our marriage, I have not experienced peace.
“The respondent is not responsible regarding the children and family needs.
“Any time I tried to bring to his notice the need of the family in terms of food stuff, he would say he doesn’t have money.
“The respondent will go to market by himself and buy food items in small quantities (e.g. crayfish N50, Maggi N20) and so on. After complaining, he will start giving me N10,000.
“After the intervention by some family and friends, my husband started giving me N20,000 for feeding and upkeep but still the money was not enough.
“He beats me any time we have misunderstanding and on so many occasions, he has asked me to leave his house but I keep pleading with him for the sake of my children.
“I am fed up with the marriage because of the respondent’s constant beating and injuries on my body; there are still some marks on my body and neck.
“I run a prophetic ministry but my husband insisted on receiving and managing the finances sowed to the ministry.”
In the suit with number FCT/CC/BWR/CV/02/2023, the petitioner sought for the following reliefs from the court:
“An order of this Honourable Court to grant me divorce and divorce certificate.
“An order of this Hon. Court to grant me the custody of my two children.
“An order for this Hon. Court ordering the Respondent to be paying the sum of N70,000 for monthly upkeep.
“An order of this Hon. Court ordering the Respondent to be responsible for the children school fees, medical bills and others.
“An order of this Hon. Court ordering the Respondent that he should stay away from making trouble in the ministry with me.
“An order of this Hon. Court ordering that the Respondent should stop beating or harassing me.”
Inspector Pius, an orderly at the Supreme Court during cross examination, denied the allegations and told the court he still loves his wife but the wife insisted she was done with the marriage.
Honourable Cyprian Okwuonye and other members of a three-man panel seperated the couple due to the woman’s insistence.
The court granted the Petitioner custody of the couple’s children and ordered the respondent to pay the sum of N35,000 monthly to his wife as upkeep for the children.