Masaka: A man, Mr. Monday Atabo, has taken his wife, Grace, to the Upper Area Court in Masaka, Nasarawa State, seeking the dissolution of their marriage due to her alleged denial of conjugal rights and suspected infidelity.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Atabo, who married Grace in 2010 under Igede customs and traditions of Benue, claims that his wife has denied him his conjugal rights and accuses her of infidelity. The couple, who share four children, have been embroiled in a conflict that Atabo believes has irreparably damaged their marriage. Atabo further alleges that Grace began using family planning medication without his knowledge or consent, exacerbating the trust issues between them.
Atabo insists that his wife must swear to the Aleku, a traditional deity, to prove her fidelity before he would consider allowing her back into his home, asserting that the lack of trust has driven him to seek a divorce.
In her defense, Grace denied all allegations of infidelity and maintained that her husband’s suspicions only arose after she established a business in 2021. She stated that she had already performed a ritual before the Aleku, clearing her of any wrongdoing. Grace, who claims joint ownership of their home, expressed her disinterest in continuing the marriage as well.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that both parties are vying for custody of their children. The presiding judge, Salisu Mohammed, granted the divorce based on the couple’s mutual requests but deferred the custody hearing to July 9.