Woman, 49, slumps as court dissolves her 21-year-old marriage

Harrison Essien, Uyo

A 49-year-old civil servant slumps as court dissolves her 21-year-old marriage on grounds of childlessness.

“It is on record that both parties have consented to the dissolution of the marriage and the respondent has asked the court to grant her husband prayer of divorce.

“In view of this, the court has no other choice than to grant the petitioner’s prayer for divorce. The marriage is hereby dissolved. The petitioner has waived the N25,000 bride price he paid. Hence the respondent has no need to return it,” the court held.

“My Lord, I have just 9 years to retire from civil service. I don’t have a child. I am exhausted in this marriage. I have tried my best to have, at least, one child from my wife but all attempts have failed. Separate us, my Lord,” the petitioner had earlier told the court.

On her part, the respondent told the court that she had prayed and visited doctors but to no child.

She said: “My Lord, I have gone to different places and taken different concoctions, all to no avail. I had told my husband to go out and impregnate any young girl and allow me to still remain his wife but he still insisted on divorce. Where do I go at my age.”