Pastor divorces wife after 26 years

A Nigerian pastor has got his prayer fulfilled by a Customary Court in Lagos.

After accusing his wife of 26 years and mother of his seven children of disrespect and lack of support, he wanted the marriage annulled.

An Igando Customary Court granted his prayers Friday.

The Court President, Mr Adewale Eko, held that Pastor Goodness Enemechukwu and Augustina were no longer husband and wife, as efforts of the court to save the union failed.

"This court has no choice than to dissolve the union, in spite of the fact that the wife still claims she loves her husband. The parties are free to go their separate ways,'' he ruled.

He said that the first three children of the marriage, aged 25, 23, 21 were old enough to decide where to live.

" The custody of the remaining four children, who are under age, is hereby referred to the Family Court," he said.

The court ordered Goodness to allow Augustina to enter his house and pack her belongings in the presence of some court officials and policemen.

Eko also ordered the cleric to pay N100,000 as rehabilitation cost to Augustina, and N10,000 monthly for the upkeep of the children.

Goodness, a pastor of the Jesus World Church, filed for divorce on 4 September.

"My wife is giving me a tough time; she does not respect me, she fights me and rains curses on me,'' Goodness told the court.

He claimed that Augustina refused to support his ministry, and that she discouraged worshippers from coming to the church.

"Because of her troubles, I had to leave the house for her and move to the camp," the pastor, who resides at Okerube, a Lagos suburb, said.

He prayed the court to dissolve the union to enable him to forge ahead in his pastoral work.

Augustina denied the allegations, saying that she has been a submissive wife.

She accused Goodness of womanising.

"About six members of the church have called me on phone, telling me to warn my husband. I told him to stop disgracing God and turn a new leaf, but he refused," she said.