‘My wife is a serial thief’

An Ibadan-based private sector worker, Azeez Ogunsola, has petitioned an Ile-Tuntun customary court in Ibadan, Oyo State, to dissolve his 20-year-old marriage to his wife, Atinuke, whom he described as “a serial thief.” In his petition before Chief Henry Agbaje, the president of the court, Ogunshola said that he could no longer bear the shame […]

An Ibadan-based private sector worker, Azeez Ogunsola, has petitioned an Ile-Tuntun customary court in Ibadan, Oyo State, to dissolve his 20-year-old marriage to his wife, Atinuke, whom he described as “a serial thief.”

In his petition before Chief Henry Agbaje, the president of the court, Ogunshola said that he could no longer bear the shame he alleged his wife had continually brought on him.

He further stated he had been overwhelmed by the humiliation rained on him by neighbours and the landlords’ association as a result of his wife’s alleged habitual stealing.

“When Atinuke started stealing, I did not take it too serious until she graduated into a huge embarrassment for me. Three months ago, I received many phone calls in my office on how my wife was selling neighbours’ domestic animals like goats. People whose goats were missing in the community had traced them to her.

“While I was looking for money to pay for the stolen goats, Atinuke was again engulfed in an allegation of stealing mobile phones from a mosque in the area. She was in an argument with her partner-in-crime on how to collect her share when she was caught.

“Before I knew it, the landlords’ association had ordered my entire family to immediately leave the community, or else they might arrest me.

“Besides, Atinuke usually give me dirty slaps if I dare complain or threaten to marry another wife due to her bad attitude. In fact, she smashed a food plate on my head the last time. I don’t want her to continue to destroy my reputation, so please, separate us,” Ogunshola begged the court.

Atinuke prayed the court not to end the union.

The respondent, a chemist, submitted that she truly stole her neighbour’s goats. “Azeez is right with the issue of goats and I have promised to change, but I didn’t steal any mobile phone. I don’t know why I am stealing; I have been trying to resolve it spiritually,” Atinuke said.

Agbaje appealed to Ogunshola to exercise more patience and join hands with his wife to solve her problem.

He told the couple to produce their relatives in court and adjourned the case till November 28, 2019 for judgment.