‘My wife’s mother pushes her into prostitution’

The president of the Mapo customary court in Ibadan, Chief Ademola Odunade, has dissolved a nine-year-old marriage between Razak Adebisi and his wife, Omosalewa, over adultery, sexual denial and abortion allegations. Omosalewa had sought divorce in the court, saying her husband was always beating her and inciting her against her mother. But Adebisi, a commercial […]

The president of the Mapo customary court in Ibadan, Chief Ademola Odunade, has dissolved a nine-year-old marriage between Razak Adebisi and his wife, Omosalewa, over adultery, sexual denial and abortion allegations.

Omosalewa had sought divorce in the court, saying her husband was always beating her and inciting her against her mother.

But Adebisi, a commercial motor driver, responded that Omosalewa had taken to professional prostitution as a means of sustenance.

“When things became very difficult for me, Omosalewa began sleeping with different men. The problem climaxed one day when I wanted to sleep with her and she rejected my request.

“She rejected any further advances I made and I then noticed she was already pregnant. The change in her attitude started when Omosalewa began assisting her mother, who is a food vendor, to sell food.

“Our pastor and I went to confront her mother to stop aiding and abetting her in adultery. Before we knew it, Omosalewa’s mother had arranged an abortion for her to save both of them from embarrassment.”

The plaintiff, a trader residing in Amunloko, submitted that her husband was living in abject poverty and had no resources to take care of her. “Anytime Razak finished beating me, I would seek refuge in my mother’s amala food centre to assist her in selling food. It was from the proceeds of the amala that I would feed Razak, the children and myself.

“Despite this, he accused my mother of using my glory to boost her own amala vending business. I didn’t abort any pregnancy, I only suffered some abdominal complications at a period,” Omosalewa said.

Chief Odunade dissolved the marriage, saying, “In the interest of peaceful living, the union between Razak and Omosalewa has ceased to be.

“Custody of the two children produced by the union is granted to Omosalewa and Razak shall pay a monthly allowance of N8,000 for the children’s upkeep, in addition to being responsible for their education and other welfare needs,” the arbitrator said.