'If my wife leaves me, she may die'

A 40-year-old man, Mr. Maxwell Madu, has
told the Agege Grade 'A' Customary Court
that if his wife, Grace Oguche, 24, divorces
him, she may die.
Madu said on Monday that his wife had
taken an oath of kolanut and water with
him in her village. He explained that the
oath demanded total loyalty to him.
He added that if the woman defaulted, she
might lose her life.
He told the court that Oguche took the
oath in the presence of her family
members in the village.
He said, "I did not know that my wife was
having an extra-marital affair, and she
was already pregnant for her boyfriend
although, she had a miscarriage.
"She cheated even though she had taken
an oath that she would never leave me.
She took the oath in the presence of her
people because she had run away from
me in the past.
"She had gone to the village to find a way
to break the oath, but they told her it could
not be broken except I was present.
"She is playing with her life."
Oguche had earlier pleaded with the court
to dissolve her union with her husband,
because he could no longer perform in
bed.
She added that Madu had failed in his
responsibilities as a man in terms of
providing for the home and their six-year-
old son since he lost his job two years
back.
Oguche, on Monday, insisted on ending
the marriage since she was no longer
interested in her husband who could no
longer meet her sexual needs.
She claimed that Madu could not
impregnate a woman because they had
tried a couple of times, but to no avail.
Oguche also requested custody of her
male child.
She said, "Ever since my husband lost his
job, I take care of the responsibilities in
the home alone, and he does not
appreciate my efforts.
"He also does not perform well in bed. I
cannot continue in this marriage and I do
not want to leave my son with him."
Madu, however, said his wife was never
satisfied whenever they had sex, adding
that he had begun taking medication to
make him more effective.
He also stressed that he did not want their
son, Bright, to be in his mother's custody
for fear of being neglected.
He said, "My son is the reason I did not
send her packing when her boyfriend
impregnated her. I do not want her to take
the child because she would not take care
of him.
"Even she warned me never to leave my
child with her."