Source: AllAfrica
A mother of four, Taiwo Arum, on Friday told an Igando Customary Court, Lagos, that her husband usually raped her in the presence of their children.

Taiwo, 41, is seeking the order of the court to dissolve her 11-year-old marriage to Jamiu.

The woman who was in tears while narrating her ordeal in court, also said that Jamiu used to beat her "mercilessly" before raping her.

"My husband, Jamiu usually beat me before raping me in the presence of our children.

"After the attack, our children normally advised me to cooperate with him, so that he will not kill me.

"On each occasion, nobody could hear my crying because of the noise from some of our tenants' generators", she told the court.

Taiwo, a building materials seller, said Jamiu usually gave her and their four children only N400 feeding allowance daily.

The woman, who claimed to be the fourth wife, said that the children lacked fatherly care and affection.

Jamiu, 45, a transporter, denied the allegations, claiming, "I did not hit her, she is blowing the issue out of proportion".

The husband stated that he still loved his wife and urged the court not to dissolve the marriage.

The President of the Court, Mr Adewale Eko, ordered the husband to start paying N5,000 to his estranged wife as weekly allowance to cater for the children.

Eko advised them to go and meet the elders in both families for amicable resolution and adjourned the case till, December 1. 

• Nigeria