I Was Deceived Into Marriage, Wife Tells Court Following Allegation Of Inf*delity

A beer seller, Wuraola Rufai, has told a Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan that her husband, Lasisi, deceived her into marriage in order for him to obtain a work permit as a sawmiller in Ile-Ife.

Wuraola said this on Tuesday while testifying before the President of the court, Chief Henry Agbaje, in a suit filed against her by Lasisi.

The mother of three told the court that Lasisi had promised to marry her 19 years ago if she could assist him to secure her father’s hammer.

He had said that the hammer would stand as a visa for a non-indigene of Ile-Ife to work as a sawmiller or timber dealer in the town.

“Based on Lasisi’s promise to fully marry me if I’m able to get him my father’s hammer, which he would have ordinarily hired for N25,000 anytime he needs it, I convinced my father and we gave him the hammer free of charge.

“Aside from living in my father’s house and impregnating me there, Lasisi became so prosperous in his sawmill business and he built a house.

“We joined him in his house and he soon started accusing me of sleeping about with men and wearing provocative dresses.

“Not only did Lasisi beat me, but he also refused to cater to the needs of our last child as well as mine.

“When the problem became unbearable for me, I left Ile-Ife for Ibadan to operate a beer joint,” Wuraola said.

In his earlier account, Lasisi stated that he had been forced out of timber dealing in Ile-Ife due to his wife’s promiscuity.

He added that Wuraola had impacted negatively on the last child of the union by teaching him all sorts of immoralities.

“Anytime I return home from my business trips, neighbours used to update me with various accounts of her adulterous behaviours and I waited until I caught her red-handed with a man.

“Her father even went as far as reporting me to the palace of the Ooni of Ife while my father-in-law’s hammer and the licence to operate as a timber dealer were withdrawn from me.

“My lord, you can investigate my claims by inviting the Director of Forest Reserve in Osun.

“Moreover, my father-in-law often arrested me with the police anytime there was a minor problem between his daughter and I.

“These and many more are the reasons why I left Ile-Ife for Ore in Ondo State,” Lasisi said.

The President of the court, consequently, dissolved the marriage and awarded custody of the first two children produced by the union to the complainant and the last child to the respondent.

He directed Lasisi to be giving N7,500 as the child’s monthly feeding allowance and N18,000 for his termly school fees in addition to being responsible for his education and other welfare.