A Grade A Customary Court in Mapo, Ibadan, is hearing a dissolution suit between a woman, Mosunmola, and her husband, Ayinla, over allegations of irresponsibility, neglect, and a lack of traditional marital rites after eight years of union.
A Grade A Customary Court sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has commenced the hearing of a matrimonial dispute between a woman identified as Mosunmola and her husband, Ayinla, over allegations of an irresponsible lifestyle and domestic neglect. On Saturday, April 4, 2026, Mosunmola testified that her eight-year union was fraught with frequent quarrels and multiple separations due to her husband’s consistent failure to provide for the family. She alleged that Ayinla showed total indifference to the welfare of their children and frequently returned home late at night after the household had gone to bed. Consequently, the plaintiff urged the court to dissolve the marriage, grant her custody of the children, and compel the defendant to take full responsibility for their feeding and education.
During her testimony, Mosunmola painted a picture of a stagnant relationship characterized by a lack of traditional legitimacy and physical abuse. “My husband and I never got along throughout the time we were together, which led to my decision to leave. He neither paid my bride price nor fulfilled the required traditional marital rites. We made no meaningful progress for the eight years our union lasted. Neither did we possess any property,” she told the court. She further claimed that she was left to single-handedly manage the children’s schooling and feeding, stating, “All that he knew to do was to beat me. We lived separately on many occasions, but we were always reconciled because I hoped he would change, but his behaviour got worse.”
In a sharp rebuttal, Ayinla consented to the dissolution of the marriage but dismissed his wife’s claims as fabrications, specifically countering her assertion regarding the bride price. “My wife is a liar. I paid N2,000 as her bride price,” he told the court. The defendant described Mosunmola as an intolerable “talkative” who lacked respect and failed in her domestic duties. “She refused to cook for me and would instead tell me to give the children money to prepare my meals. My wife lacks morals and has been a poor role model for our children. She sometimes said inappropriate things, which often landed her in trouble,” he added. The court has adjourned the matter to a later date for further hearing and judgment on the prayers for child custody and maintenance.
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