Now you’ve separated us, I am no longer divorcing her, petitioner begs court

There was a mild drama at the Mapo Customary Court, Ibadan, Oyo State on Monday as a physically challenged man on a wheelchair, Joel Banimore, told the court president that he was no longer interested in divorcing his wife after the court had heard his prayer.

Banimore had petitioned the court that he wished to end the 15-year-old marriage between him and his wife, Abimbola, saying she was “troublesome” and was allowing her family’s influence to override his own decisions, hence he was prepared to allow her reunite with her family.

The petitioner told the court president, Chief Ademola Odunlade, “If you remember, I told you last year that my wife was promiscuous. I caught her having affairs with some of the elders in our church, and even at that, I endured. I also told you she was ill and you ordered that I should take care of her.

“I took her to the UCH, Ibadan, where they asked me to bring N300,000 for treatment. I told the family I could not afford it and sought their understanding that we should use my family doctor, who charged me N20,000. They didn’t agree with me. They took her to her uncle’s doctor, who charged them N15,000.

“I paid the said amount, but I was not comfortable. Her family members were always taking decisions for my family. If she is not ready to listen to me, she can go with her family.”

Abimbola responded that her husband was “stubborn and always ready to create tension, even when there was no reason for it.”

Chief Odunlade dissolved the marriage and ordered Banimore to be paying the sum of N15,000 every month as feeding allowance for the three children in the marriage, while granting custody of the children to the defendant.

Shocked by the petitioner’s appeal after judgment that he no longer wanted the court to separate him from his wife, Odunlade told him he should have considered his decision deeply before dragging his wife to court, or even withdraw the case before the ruling.