By Ishaya Ibrahim
The woman says the man is a woman beater. The man counters, accusing his mother-in-law of unnecessary interference, leading to disharmony. At the end, a Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan on Friday, September 25, dissolved the marriage between the couple.
Both are school teachers, John Fawole and his wife, Mary. They had lived together for 11-years. They both enjoyed the good days, suffered together in bad times. At one point, they lost two of their children, yet they held on. But the harmony was soon to be tested by a bigger trial. What exactly went wrong?
Mary went to a Mapo court in Ibadan to seek for the dissolution of the marriage. She said her husband was a wife beater.
Chief Ademola Odunade, the president of the court, granted Mary’s prayer to avoid a future confrontation that could turn ugly.
Mary’s divorce prayer were hinged on two grounds. That her husband was a wife beater, and that her life was threatened. No judge would overlook those complaints.
Mary, who lives in Kolapo Isola-Genral Gas area in Ibadan, added that her husband was irresponsible and a monster
But the husband, Fawole, has a response. The man, who lives in Olunwola area in Ibadan, said the problem in his home should be put on the door step of his mother-in-law.
He accused his wife’s mother of interfering in their affairs, leading to the many troubles they were having.
“Rather than ensure that our relationship remained solid, her mother created disharmony in our home,” he said.
In one instance, he said his mother-in-law, took their two two children to a quack doctor who gave them fake drugs that led to their deaths.
He said he had been a good husband, until the mother-in-law made their home a crisis arena.
“I have been a good husband and father all along, but her mother is a devil incarnate who never allowed our marriage to work,” he said.
