The marriage that was contracted in
July, 1999, was terminated today, as an Uyo High Court dissolves a 18-year-old
union between one Nseobong Ukpong and his wife, Mary, over poor cooking by the
wife. The Presiding Judge while
dissolving the marriage, said there was “no longer any love in the marriage’’.
She said the Court had tried
several times to reconcile the indifferences between the couple, but all
efforts proved abortive. "Since the petitioner has insisted on divorce
after several interventions, the court has no choice than to dissolve the union
despite the wife’s claim that she still loves her husband."
“Therefore, you have ceased to be
husband and wife, henceforth. I put an end to the union between both of you
from today in the interest of peace. Both are free to go their separate ways
without any hindrances or molestation." The judge pronounced.
The 57-year old husband had
approached the Court, seeking dissolution of his 18 year-old marriage with his
wife, on the grounds of his wife's inability to cook decent meal and lack of
respect.
Testifying before the court, Ukpong
described the defendant as a disobedient wife, who hardly obey instruction and
did not know how to do domestic works.
"My wife did not know how to
cook, her food was always tasteless. Anytime she cooked and I complained about
her food, she would tell me to cook myself. And I started cooking my food
because if I had continued eating her food, I might have fallen sick." The
petitioner said.
He added that "My wife had
failed in her matrimonial obligations; she doesn’t prepare my food on time, I
have warned her several times but she wouldn’t listen to me. Most times I go to
the canteen to eat when I am hungry, there is no point in harbouring a wife
that makes me hungry. My Lord, please separate us, I am no more interested in
the marriage.’’
According to him, my wife was very
dirty; she would not wash or sweep the house. Everywhere in the house used to
smell. She kept packing used plates for four days or more without washing them
and I was always doing the cleaning. She would go out every Friday and returned
on Sunday evening. During weekdays, she would leave home by 7 a.m. and returned
at midnight and I dared not query her."
However, the 45-year-old wife,
denied all the allegations and accused her husband of wanting to take another
wife.
She cried in the court, saying she
don't have anyone who will marry her again, because of her age.
“My Lord, he is accusing me wrongly
because he wants to take another wife, please help me beg him. "I did not
know why my husband stopped eating my food. I tried my best to give him good
food but he was always complaining that my food was tasteless. I was not dirty
as I was always cleaning the house." she said.
Mary had pleaded court not to grant
her husband’s plea, saying “I still love him”.
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