A 57-year-old businessman, Jamiu Adewunmi, has approached the Igando Customary Court in Lagos State for the dissolution of his 24-year-old marriage because his wife converted to Christianity from Islam without his consent.
The wife, Kehinde Adewunmi, a 50-year-old trader, on Thursday broke down in tears while on her knees in the courtroom, begging her husband not to divorce her.
Mrs. Adewunmi in her plea asked the court to “help me beg him, where will I get a man at my age to marry me if my husband divorces me.
“I am ready to make amends wherever I might have made mistakes; I am not ready to divorce my husband.
“I still love him and besides, I do not want my children to suffer this action because they are innocent. Please, save my marriage.”
The husband told the court “my wife was always telling me that she was going for an Islam programme called Alasalatu, instead she would secretly go to a church to worship.
“I got to know when I broke into her room in her absence because, lately, she was always locking the room and would keep its key close to her chest.
“So, I was curious to know what she was hiding in the room.
“When I entered her room, I saw pictures where she wore a gown and cap belonging to one of the white garment churches.
“In the pictures, she posed with some other worshipers wearing the same uniform.
“I don’t want her anymore because I cannot condone another religion in my house except the one I am practicing.”
He also accused the mother of four of not cooking for him regularly, saying the few times she did, the food would come late.
“Kehinde had failed in her matrimonial obligations.
“I had warned her several times but she wouldn’t listen to me. There is no point harbouring a wife that makes me hungry,” the angry husband said.
He urged the court to dissolve the marriage that he was no longer in love.
President of the court, Adegboyega Omilola, however, ordered the couple to come back with three members of their relatives each for a possible reconciliation.
He adjourned the case to August 30 for further hearing.
