‘My husband tied me to tree’

A housewife, Fausat Akinola, has told a Grade `C’ Customary Court in Agodi, Ibadan that her husband of 15 years, Mr. Sarafa Akinola, tied her to a tree in front of their home.

The woman, a mother of three, was giving evidence in a divorce suit filed by her husband.

“My lord, I support the dissolution of our marriage because my husband tied me to a tree in our house.

“There was a day he threw me inside a cesspit. I was rescued by a neighbour.

“He treated me like a slave and was fond of beating me up whenever we quarrelled.

“Dissolution of the marriage is a freedom from brutality. It will save me from untimely death. I’ve packed out of his home,” the respondent said.

Sarafa told the court that Fausat was stubborn and disobedient.

He said the respondent and his three children packed out of his home to an unknown destination without informing him.

The petitioner implored the court to order the respondent to bring back the children so that he could take care of them.

He denied tying her to a tree.

“I did not throw her inside a cesspit,” Sarafa added.

Delivering judgment, the President, Chief Mukaila Balogun, said there was no basis to deny the divorce request, since both parties had agreed to end the union.

He dissolved the marriage and gave custody of the three children to the petitioner.

Balogun said the evidence of the respondent showed she will not be able to take care of the children.

He ordered the petitioner to take care of the children.