A wife in Ekiti State lamented before the Ikole-Ekiti Customary Court how her husband beats her regularly for not having a male child.
The woman, Sayo Akomolafe, prayed for the dissolution of her marriage due to the constant beatings, neglect and lack of care.
The woman revealed that the beatings began when she was pregnant for the fifth child as soon as her husband discovered it was a girl-child.
“I gave birth to my first child 13 years ago, but my husband started neglecting me and the children when I gave birth to the fifth girl-child.
“As a result, he married two other women and ever since they arrived, I have no peace again in the house”, she said.
The complainant said that the two wives he married also gave birth to female children.
Mrs. Akomolafe, however, said that she later gave birth to a male child, the sixth, for the man.
The defendant, a welder, however, said that the reason for the problems in his home was because he married other women, denying ever beating her.
Mrs. Yemisi Ojo, the head of the three-member panel of the court, took time to educate the husband that the sex of a child is determined by the chromosome released by the man.
Ojo advised the husband and his wife to go back home to discuss how to take care of their six children.
“The court is disposed to settlement outside the court and this case, being a fresh matter, parties are given the opportunity to deliberate on how to take care of the children”, she said.
The court adjourned the case till May 8, ordering the man not to beat his wife again.