An female cleric, Christiana Ali, has asked an Ile-tuntun Customary Court in Ibadan to dissolve her 25- year-old marriage to her husband, Isiaka, over alleged blackmail.
In her petition to the court, the plaintiff said that her husband had destroyed her church by spreading negative information about her conduct.
“My union with Isiaka has been engulfed in unhappiness and frustration.
“This is due to the fact that he has continually blackmailed me before my congregation in church that I am adulterous.
“Isiaka’s attitude has now led to the complete collapse of my church.
” In the past two years, we haven’t spoken to each other and I don’t want to continue with him as a wife.
“In fact, Isiaka has threatened to harm me if I leave his home,” Christiana said..
But the respondent, who opposed the divorce suit, denied the allegation levelled against him.
Isiaka, who is visually impaired, told the court that he was not was responsible for the collapse of the church.
“My lord, my complaint about Christiana’s behaviour is true and meant for her to turn a new leaf.
“I noticed that she started inviting all sorts of men into the house.
“I also observed that the men usually have sexual intercourse with Christiana because of the way she used to moan whenever she is with them.
“Is it because of my visual impairment that she feels that I can no longer satisfy her sexually?
“I only warned her that men will only take advantage of her while they are in a secret place trying to counsel them as an evangelist.
“The landlord association in the neighbourhood also warned Christiana about organising vigils.
“ But members of her church are more interested in night prayers.
“So they stopped attending the church because of the complaints of the landlords association.
“Her church is on my land and my other property is in her custody.
“For the sake of our children, the court should not terminate our union,” Isiaka said.
The court’s President, Chief Henry Agbaje, adjourned the case till July 17.(NAN)
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