When I got called to the Nigerian Bar, part of my resolve was that I will not handle divorce cases. In my first 3years of practice, I declined or rejected briefs on matrimonial causes.
However, I got one brief that I knew that I was not just going to court for dissolution of marriage, but I was actually on a rescue mission; to save the life of the woman.
The man in question would beat his wife in their matrimonial home and also beat her in her parents house where she had ran to for safety.
After hearing the woman’s story, I decided to take her brief. Of course, I got judgement in her favour. Since then, I have successfully done matrimonial cases for both men and women as petitioners.
On 2nd of February this year, I got one judgement in favour of my client, this time a man as the Petitioner. His wife was so violent that the man preferred to sleep in his car when he comes back from work than sleep in the house.
Today he is free from that, he has his own house and very happy. You needed to see the joy on this man’s face when the judgment was delivered in his favour.
His first statement to me outside the court was: “Barrister thank you so much, I am finally free, let her go and buy husband with her money”.
If your life is threatened in your marriage, especially through physical violence, the law has provided a safety net for you, it is called DIVORCE.
If you love your spouse so much that you don’t want divorce, please go for Judicial Separation, whereby you are still married but no longer living under the same roof.
When you are back to your senses and tempers are calm, you can live together again, but by all means, save your life by taking proactive steps.
May the soul of Minstrel Osinachi rest in peace.
By Ebenezer Egwuatu, Head of Litigation, Raphael Adekole &Co