An Akure Customary Court has been asked to dissolve a 20-year-old marriage following allegations of domestic abuse, abandonment and irreconcilable differences.
The petitioner, Oluwadamilola Olatunji, approached the court seeking the dissolution of her marriage to her husband, Modumu Olatunji, alleging years of physical and verbal abuse as well as prolonged desertion.
Oluwadamilola, who was represented by her counsel, Adekunle Ogbaro and Akintoye Olatunji, told the court that the marriage, contracted under native law and custom, had broken down beyond reconciliation despite efforts to save the union.
While testifying before the court, the civil servant said she and the respondent had lived separately for several years, alleging that her husband abandoned the family in 2010 after subjecting her to repeated physical and emotional abuse during their marriage.
She further informed the court that her husband had previously instituted divorce proceedings in June 2022 but later withdrew the suit after the court advised both parties to explore an amicable settlement.
According to her, all reconciliation efforts eventually failed, leaving her solely responsible for the upbringing of their four children without any financial assistance from the respondent.
The petitioner said the burden of catering for the children's education and welfare had become overwhelming, forcing her to obtain loans to meet their needs.
Oluwadamilola also told the court that she was the respondent's second wife, explaining that both parties had mutually agreed to live separately during the early years of the marriage, an arrangement she said did not initially create any conflict between them.
She urged the court to dissolve the marriage, insisting that the relationship had irretrievably broken down and that there was no basis for the couple to continue living as husband and wife.
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