Chief Ademola Odunade, the president of a Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, has dissolved a four-year-old marriage between Lateef Badmus and his erstwhile wife, Munirat, over allegations of arrogance and pride against the latter.
Odunade held that there was no way an arrogant wife can find favour with her spouse and his relatives and, therefore, dissolved the union “in the interest of peaceful living.”
The arbitrator awarded custody of the only child produced by the union to Munirat and ordered Badmus to be paying her a monthly allowance of N5,000 for the daughter’s upkeep, in addition to taking responsibility for her education and other welfare.
Badmus, who lives abroad and was represented in court by his immediate younger brother, had approached the court seeking dissolution of the marriage because his wife was “arrogant, proud and disrespectful.”
The petitioner stated he had endured all sorts of embarrassment and insult from Munirat for four years and was no longer willing to continue the union with her as husband and wife.
“When I was told that my mother was sick, I sent money to Munirat to give to my father for her treatment, but Munirat refused to allow her access to the money, let alone treatment. There is nobody that Munirat cannot insult or disrespect,” Badmus said. His younger sister also informed the court that she was always there whenever Munirat was treating her (Munirat’s) father and mother with disdain.
“I was present when she insulted my mother to the extent that my mother wept profusely and she is presently ill. Munirat is always instigating crises in the family, calling us bad names,” the sister explained.
However, the respondent opposed the suit and also denied all the allegations levelled against her.
She argued that she had remained loyal, obedient and loving to her husband and his family members.
“I usually visit my parents-in-law, play with them and even cook their food. Please, for the sake of our child, do not separate us,” she pleaded.
Munirat’s father also testified that he was always warning his daughter to be of good behaviour to her husband and parents-in-law.
