A man, John Okoh, on Friday asked a Customary Court sitting in Kurudu, Abuja, to dissolve his 12-year-old marriage on the grounds that his wife, Peace, demanded a blood covenant.
Okoh said his wife asked that they both go into a blood covenant and swear to the fact that neither of them would engage in extra-marital affairs.
According to him, Peace insisted on a blood covenant in the presence of his kinsmen when both of them were invited for a peace talk in their Benue community.
The defendant told the court that he had not known peace since eight years ago when he married Peace.
“ My Lord, I have been through hell in the hands of my wife. I have not had peace in the past eight years.
“My wife does not have a good relationship with my family members.
“She has also instigated our four children against my mother because she calls her a witch in their presence.
“I have made her to understand that going into a blood covenant is against my tradition but she has insisted that that is the condition on which I can have peace,’’ he said.
He alleged that his wife falsely accused him of having extra-marital affairs and often rained curses on him.
The complainant said several family members had tried to intervene in the marital issue, adding that she had remained adamant on having a blood covenant.
“ My wife had falsely accused me of sleeping with other women many times and rained curses on me daily.
“ She has also resorted to going from one prayer house to the other in other to remotely control me.
“She harasses any female she sees around me, whether family friend, niece or colleague,’’ Okoh said.
He further told the court that the state of their marriage had affected him psychologically and morally.
“Sir, since my marital issues started, things no longer work for me and the troubles I am facing are affecting me negatively.
“I am psychologically and mentally affected, I cannot think straight anymore,’’ he added.
He pleaded with the court to grant his request for divorce so that he does not die suddenly.
“ I pray this court to grant me my divorce request so that I don’t die a sudden death.
“ I want to be alive to take care of my children and I cannot meet her need for a blood covenant,’’ he said.
The court’s Chairman, Jamilu Jega, adjourned the matter till April 28 for cross- examination of the defendant.
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