Admin l Friday, March 24, 2017
AGEGE, Lagos, Nigeria – A Lagos based auditor by name Louisa Bamidele has told an Agege Customary Court that her husband, Emmanuel deceived her into marriage for 10-years, without formalizing the union.
Louisa who lives at Funsho Williams Avenue who was giving testimony before Mr. Philips Williams, President of the court, said her husband lied to her about his marital status at the initial stage of the relationship. She alleged that her husband is fraudulent and full of deception.
“The foundation of our marriage was based on deceit. I never knew he has been legally married to another woman in Lagos because I met him during my NYSC service in the North.
He only told me that he had a child by another woman but they no longer have anything in common. I believed all he told me, he came with his family to my father and we had our engagement.
“After our engagement, I also want him to be financially independent and I helped him get a dealership job with my connection, yet he was still not contributing financially to the family’s upkeep. I Have been responsible for the family welfare, I paid the house rent, school fees and provide food for the family, yet my husband does not value all these and he has refused to be responsible”, she said.
The petitioner also accused the respondent of persistent domestic violence and abuse. He does not respect me as a wife and he threatens my life. I find it difficult to sleep at night because of fear of the unknown; there is no rest of mind. I have to get my lawyer to write to the Commissioner of Police because of the numerous threats to my life.
“He once stole my jewelry bags and other valuable things while he also sold my car without my consent. I finds it difficult to fall asleep at night after a long day at work, if I did not take sedatives, my mind is not at rest.
The petitioner also informed the court that she had reported her husband to their pastor on several occasions but things has not improved since then. Anytime I bring up the issue of marriage, he usually wave it off , promising that we will formalize our union very soon.
“I did my investigations to know where he was spending his money since he does not caters for the family, I found out that he spends on the other woman and her children.
I confronted him on the issue of his legally married wife, he initially denied before confessing that he had truly married her legally before he deceived me into another marriage.
Louisa further alleged that the respondent claimed that he has filed a divorce against his legal wife but he did not have any court papers to prove before which court the suit is pending.
“He beats me at every slight opportunity especially when he asked me for something and I could not provide it for him. I don’t love him again, please separate me from him, the petitioner said. Citing persistent domestic violent, threat to life and other irreconcilable differences, Louisa pleaded with the court to dissolve the marriage. Williams urged the couple to maintain peace, pending the court’s decision while the case was adjourned till April 7, 2017.
