Olawale Idowu, a vehicle spare-parts dealer, appealed to a Grade A Customary Court in Mapo, Ibadan, to dissolve his 13-year marriage to his wife, Yemisi, citing continuous violence as the reason.
Idowu, residing at No. 25, Okeolode, Aremo, Ibadan, expressed his deep regret over marrying Yemisi. “My lord, despite my relentless endurance, Yemisi remains troublesome,” he said. Idowu recounted abandoning their home on December 16, 2023, after Yemisi violently attacked him at midnight. “Yemisi slaps me and tears my clothes at will,” he added, presenting torn clothes and a summons notice as evidence.
In her defense, Yemisi argued that Idowu had left her for another woman. She admitted to a midnight altercation in December, noting that Idowu’s mother was aware of the incident but chose to threaten her instead of resolving the issue. “My mother-in-law called the police, leading to my arrest,” Yemisi said.
Presiding over the case, Mrs. S.M. Akintayo, pointed out that none of the evidence presented confirmed the payment of a bride price, a key component in validating a customary marriage in Nigeria. As a result, Akintayo ruled that there was no marriage to dissolve as it never legally existed.
Despite Idowu’s request for divorce, the court awarded custody of their three children to Yemisi. Akintayo instructed Yemisi not to deny Idowu access to the children and emphasized joint responsibility for their welfare, education, and other needs. She also ordered Yemisi to refrain from threatening, harassing, or disturbing Idowu’s private life moving forward.
