Court separates couple over husband’s laziness, inability to run a family

The president of an Ile-Tuntun Customary Court in Ibadan, Chief Henry Agbaje, yesterday dissolved the 20-year-old marriage between Wasiu Sabitu and his wife, Rofiat, over the former’s “laziness and inability to run a family.”

In his judgment, Agbaje noted that any man who would earn respect and happiness in a marriage must not be jobless.

The arbitrator, therefore, dissolved the union “in the interest of peaceful living” and granted custody of the four children produced by the union to Rofiat.

Agbaje directed Sabitu to be paying N8,000 as the children’s monthly feeding allowance, in addition to being responsible for their education and other needs.

Rofiat had stated that she was no longer interested in continuing with her husband in the marriage because of his “laziness and incapability.”

She further stated that it was better not to be married than to continue staying with a man like Sabitu, whom she said had subjected her and the children to hunger, thirst and hopelessness.

“I have never seen a lazy man like Wasiu. Even if there is work, my husband prefers to sleep and complain. In fact, people are beginning to accuse him of stealing and armed robbery in the neighbourhood.

“Wasiu is, therefore, incapable of not only feeding us, he also doesn’t send any of our four children to school,” Rofiat said.

Sabitu, however, opposed the petition and instead prayed the court to beg his wife on his behalf. But it was too late, the court ruled.