A 48-year-old pastor, Abayomi Adegboyega, on Wednesday asked an Igando Customary Court in Lagos State to dissolve his 16-year-old marriage, alleging that his wife always demands ‘bribe’ from him before sex.
He further alleged that his wife, Risikat, a trader, starves him of sex , saying he will kill himself if the marriage is not dissolved.
The pastor also accused the wife of plotting the fall of his ministry by defaming him in public, especially before members of his church.
The couple have four children.
“My wife starves me of sex; she will never allow me to sleep with her unless I give her money or buy her a gift.
“Risikat should never come near me. I do not want to have anything to do with her again.
“She is irritating me, I will kill myself if the loveless marriage is not dissolved,” he told the court. “My wife wants my ministry to collapse, she defames my character before my members and others; people who want to help me refuse because of what they hear from her,” Abayomi said.
In her defence, 39-year-old Risikat, denied all the allegations, accusing her husband of threatening her life with charms.
She said: “My husband told me that he would use charm to destroy my life; indeed, after few weeks, I was very sick; everywhere my family took me to, they said it was a spiritual attack.
“He is just looking for an excuse to dump me. If he wants to marry another wife, he should go ahead instead of making false allegations against me.”
She accused her husband of beating her at the slightest provocation adding that he had driven her and the children out of their home since the past nine months without sending money for their upkeep.
Risikat urged the court not to dissolve the marriage as she still loves her husband in spite of his misbehaviour.
President of the court, Mr. Adeniyi Koledoye, ruled that the couple should maintain the peace and forgive each other for the sake of their children.
He adjourned the case to July 11 for judgment.
