‘My husband’s black cat is voodoo against my business’

A wife and mother of one, Mrs Aminatu Solanke yesterday, told the Abeokuta, Ogun State, Customary Grade II Court sitting at Ake, that a black cat brought home by her husband has been a curse to hermidwifery business. Aminatu Solanke, who is the defendant in a divorce suit her husband, Abiodun Solanke, instituted against her, […]

A wife and mother of one, Mrs Aminatu Solanke yesterday, told the Abeokuta, Ogun State, Customary Grade II Court sitting at Ake, that a black cat brought home by her husband has been a curse to hermidwifery business.

Aminatu Solanke, who is the defendant in a divorce suit her husband, Abiodun Solanke, instituted against her, also said that contrary to the claim by her husband that she was wayward, she had not at any timeengaged in adultery.

To Aminatu, living with the black cat in the home has been having an adverse effect on her midwifery business, adding “and since he has not been responsible at the home front, I have to go and look for an apartment to operate my midwifery business.” 

She said she had made it clear to Solanke that the cat’s presence in the home was causing expectant mothers to withdraw from patronizing her, but her husband did not budge. 

“At a stage, a figure of 10-15 clients that were patronising me got reduced to 2-5, yet he did not show any concern. On the allegation of staying away for days and coming home at late hours, I am shocked because we both agreed to get another apartment because of his black cat. I am a midwife and sometimes, these expectant mothers will need my attention and I have to stay with them,” Aminatu told the court. 

When Solanke was asked to explain the rationale for keeping a black cat, he replied he was a herbalist and that a client wanted him to keep the cat for a certain purpose. 

“All these excuses are not true. She has been keeping late nights. In fact, during our annual traditional celebration, I called her to take money for cooking, but she gave the money to her junior wife and did not show up for the celebration. This made me to conclude that may be she is no longer interested in the marriage,” he said. 

The court president, Chief O.O. Akande, urged Aminatu to show respect and accommodate her husband’s professional calling, saying, “At least, you knew he is a herbalist before you went into the marriage. You have to bear with it. You said he is your second man, so do you want to be shifting from man to man in your life?

“If both of you are still interested, we can make amends. But, if by February 26 your husband maintains his stand on his divorce suit, we have no option. You still have an opportunity to go back home and seek family mediation.”