By Deborah Nnamdi
A Customary Court in Kaduna on Thursday dissolved a six-year-old marriage between a businesswoman, Hannah, and her husband, Caleb Williams, on the grounds of battery and threat to life.
Hannah, 37, had earlier informed the court that she could no longer stay in the marriage because of constant battery and threat to life.
She claimed that her husband had made their six-year marriage so miserable for her since they lost their second child three years ago.
She accused her husband of beating her to a stupor on many occasions until neighbors intervened, and while beating her, he would keep saying that she either left his house alive or dead.
The petitioner pleaded with the court to end the marriage, saying she was no longer interested in it.
“My lord, I can no longer bear the emotional and physical abuse, as well as maltreatment.
“I am afraid I might not be lucky next time as he might beat me to death,” she told the court.
“I can no longer stay with someone I am constantly afraid of, someone who criticizes everything I do rather than shows me love; I am living in prison, not a marriage.
“Please end this marriage, my mental health is very important to me and my child,” the embattled woman said.
The husband, however, rejected all the accusations, claiming that his wife was obstinate and unwilling to listen to anyone.
He also requested the court to grant the dissolution of the marriage, as his wife had asked, emphasizing that she only follows her own decisions.
The husband informed the court that his wife had disregarded his appeals and rejected all attempts at reconciliation.
Delivering his judgment, Judge Dauda John ordered the dissolution of the marriage after concluding that the union had broken down irretrievably.
“No one should be forced to stay in a toxic marriage, and the wife deserves peace and emotional relief.
He held that the marriage between the two parties had broken beyond redemption, and there was no need to stay under the same roof, especially as it bordered on the threat to life.
The marriage between the two is hereby dissolved with effect from today, April 10,’’ John ruled.
He also granted the custody of their 5-year-old son to the mother and ordered her to return the N50,000 dowry paid by the respondent.
