Housewife offers husband N120,000 to dissolve their marriage after five years of childlessness

KWARA State housewife Seliat Abeeb offered to refund her husband the bride price and an addition severance sum adding up to a total of N120,000 (£260) to allow for the dissolution of her marriage which hit the rocks due to the fact that they cannot have children.

Mrs Abeeb, 33, from Omu-Aran in Kwara State, who lives in the Ago Olushola area in Otun, had, on June 14, approached an Omu-Aran Area Court, seeking the dissolution of her marriage. However, her husband insisted that he would only accede to the request if the bride price he paid to marry her was returned in full but his wife has gone a step further.

Seliat is offering to not only return her bride price but an addition sum covering other expenses she incurred while their union lasted. In her petition, Mrs Abeeb told the court that she was no longer interested in the five year union that had yet to produce a child.

She said: “I was forced to marry him against my will. I know quite well that my husband had spent some money on me, so I am ready to pay the N120,000 he demanded as condition for my release.

"He cannot use the huge amount to deter me from leaving. I am no longer interested in the union.”

Mr Abeeb had earlier pleaded with the court to assist in reconciling him with his wife, a move Seliat vehemently resisted. He then demanded N120,000 for her release, which his wife has now agreed to pay him.

Judge Abolade Banigbe in his ruling, said the court did its best to pacify Seliat but to no avail, so held that the court thus has no option than to dissolve the union. He added that the case was earlier adjourned for settlement among the parties but with the turn of events, the court has no option than to dissolve the marriage.

“I have tried my best in this circumstance to see that the couple remains one but the woman stood her grounds. The union between them ceases to exist from now,” Judge Banigbe added.

However, the court awarded N50,000 to Mr Abeeb as against the N120,000 he demanded. With this, the marriage was formally annulled.