My husband turned me into punching bag, housewife tells court

on Friday, a mother of two, Muibat Lawal, pleaded with the Mapo Grade A Customary Court in Ibadan to dissolve her eight-year-old marriage to her estranged husband, Abduljelil Lawal, on the grounds of lack of love, public assault and irresponsibility.

In her testimony, Ms Lawal said she met and fell in love with Lawal on Facebook.

“After our wedding in Offa town, Lawal’s irresponsibility became well-pronounced as he turned me into his punching bag. He beats me anytime I beg him to provide for us at home. In fact, he accuses me of infidelity and subjects me to public assault,” Ms Lawal told the court.

She said since there was no love lost between her and her estranged husband, the court should grant her request for the dissolution of the marriage.

Mr Lawal, who did not object to his wife’s request for divorce, denied assaulting her during their eight-year union.

He told the court, “She is free to go if she wishes, and I’m ready to cater for the children.”

The court’s president, S.M. Akintayo, held that since the petitioner proved beyond reasonable doubt that her marriage to Mr Lawal had broken down irretrievably, the court owed it a duty to grant her request for dissolution of the same in the interest of peace.

She awarded custody of the two children but ordered the respondent to ensure a monthly payment of N15,000 for their upkeep allowance and gave an order restraining Mr Lawal from either threatening, harassing or interfering in the private life of Ms Lawal.

She, however, made a consequential order to the effect that the duo should be jointly responsible for the education and other welfare of the children.