Date: 2016-11-09

A housewife, Rasheedat Mudashiru, has told an Ilorin Area Court that she eloped with her husband, Taiwo, when her family withhold their consent in the marriage.

Rasheedat, who lives in Alapata Area of Ilorin, made this known when she testified in her divorce petition against Taiwo, whom she had cohabited with for seven years on Tuesday.

She said, "My family was not in support of the union from the beginning but I eloped with him till I was pregnant."

Rasheedat told the court that her husband always beat her despite not paying her pride price. She said her family ordered her to file the divorce suit when it was evident that the situation was unendurable.

She said, "It is now clearer to me who he is. He beats me at will and there is no rest of mind in the matrimony," she said. The petitioner urged the court to grant her divorce because she had been hypertensive. Taiwo, in his response, denied the allegations. He confirmed that he had not paid the bride price.

He pledged to do so if given a second chance, and urged the court to save the marriage. He said, "I still love my wife, please grant me adjournment to make a reconciliatory move." The Area Court judge, AbdulQuadir Ibrahim, adjourned the case till December 19 for report of settlement or continuation.