Lagos  – “My husband is planning to abandon me and our four children in order to marry another woman. I want the court to stop him,’’ a wife told a Lagos court on Monday.

The petitioner, Nkechinyere Obi, emotionally pleaded with a Grade `B` Customary Court, Oshodi, to stop her husband, Chukwudi from getting married to his girlfriend.

“Since we got married in 2003, things had been so tough for us, but we were able to manage until November 2010 when my husband became financially okay.

“Instead of taking care of us, he started keeping wayward friends, clubbing, keeping late nights and womanising,’’ Nkechinyere said.

She told the court that her husband beat her and the children the day she complained about his new lifestyle.

According to her, Obi abandoned her and the children in the village without any contact, when they travelled home sometime in February to settle their marital crisis.

“After the settlement, he asked us to stay back so that he can come back to Lagos and rent a comfortable apartment after which he would come back for us.

“He never called or sent us money for our upkeep. When I tried to call him he refused to pick my calls and eventually changed his phone number,’’ Nkechiyere said.

She told the court that her husband`s cousin called her in October to inform her that her husband would be getting married on Dec.10.

“I came back to Lagos and realised that my husband had left our residence. I went to his shop at Obalende and he told me to forget about our marriage and that he didn’t want to see me or the children again.

“ I have seen the invitation card, meaning that the wedding will hold. I want the court to stop the marriage until he signs an undertaking for the upkeep of our four children,’’ she said.

The couple, who reside at 5, Aremu St., Mafoluku, Oshodi, have been married for eight years and are blessed with four kids.

The court president, Alhaja A.I. Olorunimbe, instructed the registrar to serve Obi a court summon in order to hear his own side of the story and why he wanted to contract another marriage.

Olorunimbe adjourned till Dec.7, for further hearing and determination.

She explained that the short adjournment was due to the date of Obi’s planned wedding fixed for Dec. 10. (NAN)