After three decades of irreconcilable differences bordering on infidelity and physical abuse, the 30-year-old marriage between two senior police officers – Gladys Faniyi, a Chief Superintendent of Police, and her estranged husband, Abayomi Faniyi, an Assistant Police Commissioner – has finally hit bottom rock.
An Ibadan Grade A Customary Court sitting on top of Mapo Hill in the Oyo State capital, pronounced the dissolution of the troubled union on Thursday, according to a copy of the judgment sighted by Persecondnews.
The court’s President, Mrs. S. M. Akintayo, said she dissolved the marriage in the interest of peaceful coexistence after the wife complained of constant domestic violence and infidelity.
“The marriage between the petitioner and the respondent has ceased to be henceforth, because the duo no longer wish to continue to live together as husband and wife.
“Abayomi is directed to be responsible for the children’s education and other needs,” the court declared.
In addition to the divorce, the court granted a restraining order forbidding Abayomi from harassing or embarrassing his former wife.
Gladys had filed the petition to escape persistent domestic abuse and to ensure that Abayomi was held legally accountable for the well-being of their children.
“My Lord, ever since I moved in with Abayomi on Sept. 23, 1996, it has been one day, one problem, in our matrimony. He keeps complaining and beating me. In 2010, we relocated to Lagos from Port Harcourt, yet nothing changed for the better.
“In 2018, I was forced to pack out of his house, and the children followed me. I decided to end this marriage because I told Abayomi to stop bringing his girls to our matrimonial home, but he did not stop.
“I have been solely responsible for sending the children to school and paying their fees. Contrary to what he has been telling the people, I did not deny him access to the children, and I did not present any report of him at any police station’, she told the court.
Responding to the allegations, Abayomi argued that the marriage had become unmanageable due to his wife’s temperament.
While he confessed to delivering a blow that caused the petitioner to strike her mouth on a table, he informed the court that this occurred after she had aggressively seized his manhood.
He maintained that her actions posed a threat of serious physical harm, prompting his forceful response.
The ACP told the court: “My Lord, Gladys keeps friends, and most of them are male; she never gave me any tangible reason for their friendship. Worst still, I’ve caught her red-handed with one of those men before.
“I have been responsible for the children, and I was even the one who took the one in Canada to the airport, converted naira to dollars for him and even sent him pocket money.
“She has been denying me access to them. That same child sent me a terrible text message, insulting me.”
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