By Wahab Abdulah

A Lagos based engineer, Olakunle Olajide recently  rejected pleas to live with his estranged wife, Moyosore Olajide, who is a banker.

Engr. Olajide who sued for divorce  alleged that his wife refused his persuasion to stay in Lagos after she was transferred to Abuja by the Central Bank of  Nigeria, CBN, insisted on a  divorce , even if  he would forgive her, the court must first separate them.

According to Olakunle , who appeared before Justice Elfreda Williams Dawodu of an Ikeja High Court  recently, said his estranged wife did not bother about his welfare, when she bluntly ignored  his plea to stay back in Lagos after she was transferred to Abuja in 1996.

The man  stunned  the court when he expressed his anger over his continued relationship with Mrs Olajide and  said, “I want our marriage dissolved though I am a Christian, and I know that God doesn’t allow divorce ,but I waited this long   because of my children. I don’t want them to be psychologically affected by our problems.”

When the presiding judge, Justice Williams-Dawodu heard his response, she said, “I believe that the court is empowered to reconcile them  when there is the need for that.”  But the petitioner who seemed to have  made up his mind  opined that, God doesn’t allow for divorce, but he can’t rescind  his decision.

He had earlier told the court  that trouble started in their marriage when his wife who works with the CBN  was transferred to Abuja. He told the court that he did not  want her to go to Abuja because it would affect  their young children adversely and strain  their relationship, but his wife was defiant.

“To show that I was not in support of  her transfer, I refused to give her transport fare from Lagos to Abuja, but she eventually left in October 1996.”

He also informed the court that his wife never bothered to come back to Lagos and see what was happening in her matrimonial home for three years until one late night in 1999,she came from Abuja.“I was shocked when I saw her that night because I wasn’t sure  why she came back after three years, I refused to let her in, but  after entreaties from neighbours, I allowed her in but on the promise that she will leave in the morning because I had  to go to work,” he told the court.

However, Mrs Olajide’s lawyer, responded that she left for Abuja when she heard that her husband was having extra marital affairs .

Mr Olajide denied the allegation ,saying  that he never had   any extra marital. And there was no time I apologized to my wife and took responsibility for the crack in our marriage.”

When asked why  he refused to take her (wife) back despite all pleas, he said, “she deserted me… she never looked for me, I was the one who looked for her …  . I have always been responsible for my children; I did  because I wanted a relationship with my children.

He however flared up when he was asked  , “do you know she still loves you and wouldn’t be a party to this divorce? He said, “She left me for 12 years although I have forgiven her, I don’t love her anymore and I want to live my life without her.

I cannot live with her any longer. I don’t think she cares any more …only that she doesn’t want to live with the stigma as a divorcee. She only wants to keep my name and still maintain her freedom.

“My lord, she has never been really  remorseful and  she accused me of several things without  clarification.  I would like the marriage to be dissolved but if  in  future we  come together, so be it.”
The court adjourned further hearing in the case, April 14, 2010.