EXTRA: My wife denies me sex, says 80-year-old man seeking divorce

Muritala Haroon, an 80-year-old retired lecturer, has again prayed a customary court sitting in Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo state, to dissolve his marriage on the ground that Afsat, his wife, is denying him sex.

Haroon had in February approached the court for the dissolution of his 52-year-old marriage, alleging sexual starvation and threat to life.

In the petition filed before the court, the retired lecturer had alleged that Afsat was fond of locking him out of the bedroom.

”I can no longer cope with the attitude again. Worst still, she and her relatives want me dead. Afsat attempted to stab me. She is misleading our six children. She has turned them against me,” he had said.

Afsat, however, rejected his request for separation, alleging that her husband was the one involved in an extramarital affair.

“Prof is promiscuous. I can not have anything to do with him because he slept with his close friend’s three wives. My lord, Haroon slept with the three wives of the man who acted as an intermediary whenever we had problems,” she had said.

The court had adjourned the matter at the time and asked the couple to give peace a chance in their marriage.

But at the resumed hearing in the suit on Thursday, Haroon said his wife refused to heed the court’s advice, adding that she still denies him sex.

“My wife did not abide by the advice given to her by this court to allow peace to reign by agreeing to perform her wifely duties,” he said.

Afsat was, however, absent when she was called and nobody represented her in court.

Ademola Odunade, president of the court, cautioned Haroon to exercise more patience. He said “the court will work with the extended members of the family to resolve the matter amicably.”

Odunade thereafter adjourned the case until May 17 for further hearing.