Posted by By SAMOD BIOBAKU (samod-bio@sunnewsonline.com) on
When Pastor Chukwuma Nzekwe met and fell in love with Oluchi in 1994, he must have hoped for the best given that four years on, they tied the nuptial knot.
When Pastor Chukwuma Nzekwe met and fell in love with Oluchi in 1994, he must have hoped for the best given that four years on, they tied the nuptial knot.
However, seven years after their marriage, pastor Nzekwe has made a dramatic u-turn telling a court on January 17, how his wife not only deserted him but threatened to kill him.
Responding to the allegation, the mother of three fired back saying the problem with her husband was his inability to discipline his dick. She alleged pointedly that her pastor husband was in the habit of "sleeping around" with other women. However, Madam Oluchi said she would love him even more if he puts the habit in check.
Notwithstanding that the holy book frowns at divorce, the 33-year-old pastor told a Grade ‘B' Customary Court in Orile-Agege, Lagos, that he had no love for her any more. In taking that decision, Nzekwe said he was conscious of her quarrelsomeness and threat to his life.
Perhaps to put a stamp of finality on his decision, Pastor Nzekwe swore by the Bible saying that Oluchi deserted him shortly after his mother-in-law visited their home on May 17, 2003. Asked if she returned thereafter, he said he accepted her back on August 28, 2004 when his landlord intervened on her behalf.
"Her mother came and after three days, she (Oluchi's mum) went to pick two of our children from school. A week later she came back with the eldest of the children and my wife's immediate brother and asked my wife to pack her belongings. She left saying my people would look for me and not see me."
Speaking on the allegation of threat to his life, he cited the day he was assaulted on his way to church saying:
"When I accepted her back, I told her we needed a change. About a week later, my wife who said I was a disappointment confronted me. She accused me of marrying another wife unknown to her. I was going to church one day when she gripped my tie and almost killed me. She held on to my tie so firmly that after freeing myself from her grip, I coughed for more than 30 minutes."
Guided by her counsel Joan Ngozi Obijiaku, Mrs. Nzekwe however denied all the allegations against her.
She told the court that if she had not absconded at the time she did, chances are that she could have been long dead.
"I packed out when I took ill after delivery. My mother came and took me away for treatment in Benin because my condition was very critical. I was there for about one year and four months.
"My husband married another woman who was around when my mother came. When I returned from Benin, all my belongings had vanished. I asked him but he did not say anything."
She also refuted the allegation of attempting to kill her husband saying she had never tugged at his shirt not to talk of attempting to kill him. "He claims that I am stubborn but that is a lie. The truth is that he is a pastor but he will not admit this even after swearing with the Holy Bible."
Asking the court to grant her custody of the three children, David (6 years), Solomon (4 years) and 2-year-old Joseph, the 35-year-old Oluchi said she was still in love with her pastor hubby. "I love him but I don't like what he does. I truly love him but I don't like his character. I can't continue to live with him except he changes."
The Court President, A. O. Awodele however dissolved the marriage and granted the lady custody of the three children. He also ordered the pastor to pay N5, 000 monthly to the estranged wife the family upkeep. In addition, he was also asked to pay N15, 000 to the lady within two weeks of the judgment to enable her settle down with the kids.