Esther Onabu and Samuel’s 21-year marriage was dissolved on Thursday by an Igando Customary Court in Lagos on grounds of desertion due to her incapacity to conceive additional children.
The marriage has ‘irretrievably broken down,’ according to the President of the Court, Mr Adeniyi Koledoye.
“This court has no choice but to dissolve the marriage because both parties consented to its dissolution.
”Today, the court declares Esther and Samuel Onabu’s marriage to be dissolved. You will no longer be considered husband and wife.
“Each of you should be free to go your separate ways; the court wishes you both well in your future endeavors.”
Koledoye urged the parties to maintain peace in the interest of the only child of their marriage.
Earlier, the petitioner, Onabu sought divorce, claiming her husband abandoned her because she could not bear him more children.
“We were in love at the beginning. After I had one son, I was unable to get pregnant again.
“My husband’s attitude and behaviour changed towards me. He became hostile and gets angry on any slightest provocation,” she said.
The embittered woman said that her husband stopped caring for her because
She said that her husband travelled out of the country and abandoned her.
“When he wanted to travel to South Africa, he told me that I was of no use to him.
”He took our only child away to live with his brother. Samuel never called me nor sent me money since he left four years ago,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the respondent was not in court to defend the allegations but when contacted on phone, he consented to the dissolution of their marriage.