A Mapo Grade A Customary Court in Ibadan on Friday dissolved the three-year-old marriage between Chidi Ngwu and his estranged wife, Taiwo, on the grounds of her troublesomeness and behavioral disorder.

Delivering judgment, the court’s President, Mrs S.M. Akintayo, held that Ngwu and Taiwo were free to go their separate ways since he was no longer interested in their union.

Akintayo, however, noted that the union between the two could not be described as a husband and wife relationship because it was not a valid customary marriage.

She added that the petitioner and the respondent did not present any evidence of payment of the bride price, which was an essential requirement in a valid customary marriage in Nigeria.

Akintayo further said that the petitioner testified before the court that he merely rented an apartment for the respondent, after which they both had two children.

The President of the court granted an order restraining Taiwo from harassing, threatening, interfering and disturbing the private life of Ngwu henceforth.

In addition, she awarded custody of the two children produced by the union to the petitioner since they had all along lived with him.

“The petitioner is ordered to provide the respondent a reasonable access to the children at an agreed time and location,” Akintayo said.
Earlier, Ngwu, a trader, had told the court that his wife had caused him so much physical and psychological pain that he was no longer willing to continue living with her.

He stated that he rented an apartment for Taiwo after impregnating her, but that she still came to his shop and personal home to cause problems.

“My lord, I rented an apartment for Taiwo after impregnating her, but she still came to my shop to fight anybody around.

“Not only does she fight me, but Taiwo also fights my customers. In fact, I have lost millions of naira as a result of her troublemaking. The two children we had together are in my custody and doing well.”

However, Taiwo was not in court when she was called to respond to the allegations leveled against her.
The bailiff said that he had served several hearing notices on her, but she declined to appear.