A Customary Court in Iwara-Ijesa, Osun State, has dissolved a marriage of 15 years, as husband declared that the half salary he is receiving has affected his ability to meet his financial obligation as the head of the ‎family.

The applicant, Mrs Oluitan Folashade, had approached the court for divorce, saying her husband, Oluitan Abraham Adelusi, a civil servant, has neglected her for almost four years.

The applicant alleged that there have been frequent fighting and lack of care on the part of her husband, urging the court to separate them.

She said her husband had been staying with his first wife, neglecting her and their 13 and nine years old children.

Without Legal Marriage

She explained that her husband had also refused to pay her dowry because she moved into his house without legal marriage.

When Adelusi was asked if he would agree to the divorce, he explained that he had been discharging his duty until 2015 when the government started paying half salary.

Adelusi, who said he was a Senior Registrar in one of the Osun state tertiary institutions, told the court that he had never attempted to beat his wife since they met in the last 15 years.

He, however, urged the court to separate them, noting that his wife was obviously tired of the marriage.

The President of the court, O. K. Sulaeman, asked Adelusi if he still loved his children and how much he would afford to give them.

However, Adelusi agreed to be paying 10,000 Naira every month till the economy is buoyant and the government begins payment of full salary.

The court, after hearing the case, dissolved the marriage, saying the two children should be in custody of the applicant while the respondent must ensure payment of 10,000 Naira every month, for the maintenance of the children.