A housewife, Blessing Onuta, broke down in tears before an Upper Area Court, Mararaba Gurku, Nasarawa State, after the judge gave a two-week window for reconciliation with her husband.
Onuta, who had approached the court seeking dissolution of her 17-year-old marriage over alleged domestic violence, told the court she doesn’t want to return to her matrimonial home.
The mother of five, in a direct criminal complaint against her husband, Amos Nwafor, a businessman who resides in Mararaba, alleged that her marriage had broken down irretrievably.
The petitioner averred that there had been no peace in the home since the marriage.
She alleged that the respondent beats, drags and strips her naked.
“During an incident, I sustained an eye injury. My husband has failed to provide for me and our children.
”He has failed to take responsibility as head of the family,” she told the court.
Onuta, therefore, prayed the court to dissolve the marriage and grant her custody of the children.
Responding, Nwafor denied all allegations levelled against him.
He told the court that he was still in love with his wife and that he would not divorce her.
The respondent said he married Onuta according to Igbo customs and traditions, paid her bride price and also married her in the church.
“I will not divorce her. We must return to the village and appear together before our elders in line with our tradition.
“I refuse to divorce her because it is not my wish. I still love her, and I married her in the church,” he said.
The presiding judge, Malam Mohammed Yakubu, advised the parties to explore reconciliation and gave them a two-week window.
He assured the woman of her safety now that the matter was before the court of Justice.
Yakubu adjourned the matter until Nov. 11 for report of settlement, reconciliation and/or hearing.
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