A Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan, on Friday, dissolved the 14-year marriage between one Kafayat Lawal and her husband, Wasiu Lawal.

The court dissolved the marriage over man’s starvation of the woman and his inability to fend for her physical and material needs.

The President of the court, Mr. Ademola Odunade, said that the marriage was dissolved because the duo agreed to separate.

He said, “We cannot force any relationship on spouses especially if it is their will to separate.

“Therefore, in the interest of peaceful coexistence, the union between Kafayat and Wasiu has ceased to be henceforth.

“Kafayat shall take custody of the four children produced by the union and Wasiu shall pay N10,000 monthly as feeding allowance for the upkeep of the four children.”

Ademola ordered that the man should also be responsible for the children’s education and other welfare.

The president further ordered Wasiu to give N3,000 to his former wife to enable her to pack her belongings away.

Earlier, the complainant had told the court that her husband was irresponsible and heartless.

“Wasiu has never been responsible for my physical and material needs as well as those of the children.

“In fact, the children and I had to live from hand to mouth because he provided us with nothing, she said.

The complainant said that when she became critically ill, Wasiu did not pay attention to her but took her for a nonentity.

The respondent, however, blamed the woman’s parents for “ruining” the marriage and accepted the divorce.

“My lord, I opt for separation in order to have a new lease of life. But I must let the court know that Kafayat’s parents did everything to destroy our togetherness.

“I will not forget to add that Kafayat herself has been unfaithful to me as she is into extra-marital affairs. I am equally frustrated over the whole episode,” he said.

NAN