Friday, 11 April 2014

‘My husband prefers his dogs to me’

It is true that the last beating I gave her landed her in the hospital, but I don’t want her to leave me,”a remorseful husband, Ayotunde Asagidigbi, 48, has told a customary court where he is battling to save his eight-year marriage.

His 42-year-old teacher-wife, Kemi, is praying the Alakuko Customary Court in Lagos to dissolve their marriage. Her husband, a dog trainer, she claimed, loves his animals more than her and their children.

“He is not appreciative and he beats me frequently. He has no affection for his children and does not care about their upkeep. He is fond of keeping his dogs in my room. All these are why I want the marriage dissolved,” she pleaded.

Mrs Asagidigbi relived how her husband sent her away for three months while expecting their first child, adding that she was dealt with when she protested the keeping of dogs in her room..

“He strangled me despite his awareness of the surgery I had few months ago due to thyroid cancer. He pressed my stomach with his knees, threatening to kill me. He even said nobody would hold him for murder. My father once disowned me when I left him for two years when he nearly killed me. Following passionate pleas by my parents, I returned to him; still he would beat me as if we were not married legally,” the woman said.

Asagidigbi said it was their last argument that led to the dislocation of his wife’s right arm.

He said: “I train dogs worth thousands of naira. It is what I do for a living. I decided to put them in her room since one of my dogs gave birth, but she frowned at it. She is too temperamental, and she shows no regard to my folks, siblings.”

The court President, Chief Godwin Awosola, punctured Asagidigbi’s claim that he loves his wife. According to Chief Awosola, such love does not translate to affection, attention, commitment and concern for his wife.

He advised the wife’s father who was in court to ensure amicable settlement of the matter and adjourned the hearing till May 6.

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