Woman, 55, asks court to dissolve 16-year-old marriage over threat to life

A 55-year-old woman, Helen Otokiti, has asked a customary court in Ado-Ekiti to dissolve her 16-year-old marriage to her husband over an alleged threat to her life. Helen told the court yesterday that the husband, Stephen Adebayo Otokiti, had ordered her to pack out of their matrimonial home or he would “waste” her life. PDP […]

A 55-year-old woman, Helen Otokiti, has asked a customary court in Ado-Ekiti to dissolve her 16-year-old marriage to her husband over an alleged threat to her life.

Helen told the court yesterday that the husband, Stephen Adebayo Otokiti, had ordered her to pack out of their matrimonial home or he would “waste” her life.

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“Since the husband said I should leave the house and threatened my life, I am not ready for any relationship again,” the petitioner declared.

Helen said trouble started in January 2019 when two of her sister’s children came to stay with them temporarily “but my husband did not want to see them”, adding he accused her of not informing him initially of the children’s visit.

“When settlement became impossible and threats to life were involved, my people asked me to look for a place to stay.

“On August 2, 2019, I left the house for him,” she said.

A witness, Mr Victor Adebisi Osuntoyinbo, informed the court that many people had made efforts to settle the quarrel between the couple without success “as the husband insisted his wife would no longer live with him in their matrimonial home.”

Osuntoyinbo supported the dissolution of the marriage.

The president of the court, Mrs Olayinka Akomolede, adjourned the matter till September 22, 2020 for evidence.