BY AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
A mother of nine, Mrs Christiana Nwankwegu, has dragged her husband, Mr Louis Mbam, to the Ebonyi State Family Law Centre, Abakaliki, over alleged involvement in diabolical activities and for abandoning his parental obligations.
The woman alleged that her estranged husband, from Izzi Local Government Council Area of the state, often threatened her life and had abandoned the family for six years.
She, therefore, demanded that her husband be compelled to sign an undertaken for her safety and to take responsibility for the upkeep of their children.
She also requested that the centre should compel the man to reverse the curses that were allegedly laid on Chibuofu, one of their children, in order to facilitate her healing or be made to refund her dowry to his in-law so as to effect their divorce.
She said, “We are married with nine children. The problem is that he is always beating me; he is a drunkard. Whenever he comes home, he would threaten to kill me.
“Our family members tried to call him to order but all to no avail. This is the sixth year since I left his house for safety as he wanted to kill me. He doesn’t provide for the family upkeep.
“Two years ago, he came and met my family to demand for his children. The children were released to him but after some time, the children returned to me. They said that he refused to pay for their school fees and feeding.
“In the evening on Easter day, my daughter, Chibuofu, was involved in a fire accident in our yard. She was bathing in the bathroom when the accident happened outside the compound. She was affected and is still in the hospital.
“I don’t have the means to continue her treatment; I am just a labourer and struggling to feed the children with the proceeds of my labour while my husband enjoys alone. The burden is too much on me. He should be made to take care of us or collect the dowry that he paid my father so that another man can marry me and adopt my children.
“My husband admitted that he was the brain behind the fire accident that happened to my second daughter because when he failed to take good care of the children while I left him, she (their daughter) brought her siblings to me. He felt embarrassed by what the little girl did and had sworn to deal with her.”
The matter was adjourned to a later date for hearing sequel to the absence of the respondent in court.
