Igando Customary Court in Lagos, on Wednesday dissolved a 36-year-old marriage between a septuagenarian, Mr Mutahiru Saibu and his 53-year-old wife, Monsurat, over bleaching and conversion of religion.


Delivering his judgment, the court’s President, Mr Adegboyega Omilola said that the petitioner was adamant in spite of all mediation from the court and family members.


``Since the petitioner insisted on divorce after several interventions, therefore, the court has no choice than to dissolve the union in spite of the fact that the wife still claims she loves her husband.


``The court pronounce the marriage between Mutahiru Saibu and Monsurat Saibu dissolved today, both parties henceforth ceased to be husband and wife.


``Both parties are free to go their separate ways without any hindrances and molestation,’’ Omilola ruled.


The petitioner, a 76-year-old retired civil servant, had sought the dissolution of the marriage over his wife's alleged bleaching and conversion to Christianity.


The septuagenarian told the court that as an Imam, his wife’s conversion from Islam to Christianity has brought shame on him.


“Her name is Monsurat before I married her, my wife is now known in the whole Celestial Churches in Lagos; I’m an Imam, how do I explain that?’’ he asked.


He said that his wife bleached her skin and that he detested it.


“The smell of her body since she started bleaching is not good for my health, why should she be bleaching at her age? She is now a grandmother.


``My wife goes out at will without my permission. She also curses a lot and her curses are coming to pass in my life,’’ he said.


Saibu said that when he told his wife that he has diabetes, the next day she started singing that God should add honey and sugar to her life.


He said that Monsurat always says that he will soon die, which he knew was true, but that even if he had a day to live, he wants to live in peace.


The respondent, Monsurat, a businesswoman, told the court that all the allegations levelled against her were false.


A mother of four, Monsurat said that since her husband bought a new mattress in 2005, he had stopped sharing the same room with her.


``When I complained, a family meeting was held but still no change.


``Mutahiru always defames my reputation by calling me a witch.


“He calls me a witch, he curses me at the slightest opportunity, he said I won’t be successful as long as I remain in his house, that is why I changed to Christianity,’’ Monsurat said.


The respondent said that her husband does not give her money to cook in the house but that he usually gives money to the children to cook for him.


She said that Saibu does not care for her and that when she was sick and hospitalised for three weeks, he did not come to the hospital even for once to check on her.