I have hesitated to present here the following reports since there’s no kidnapping, mutilation or murder involved, hence no violation of human rights. However, I decided to include these articles for three reasons.
First, to demonstrate the pervasive existence of the belief in superstition in society, not only among ‘ordinary’ (read: uneducated) people but also among highly educated people such as lawyers and even judges. Apparently, the latter consider the belief in witchcraft enough reason to disband many-year-old marriages if a couple accuses one another of witchcraft. It is important to emphasize that it’s in this context – belief in witchcraft – that ritualistic activities such as murders, kidnappings, mutilation of victims and grave robbing occur. Hence, the second reason to include these reports is that the belief in witchcraft, even if it does not culminate in murder or another heinous crime, lies at the basis of ritualistic killings (known as ‘money rituals’ in Nigeria), which terrorize the population and form a serious and intolerable infringement upon their basic human right to live without fear. And thirdly, last but not least, this site is not only focusing on ritual killings but also on witchcraft and superstition, after all closely related (webmaster FVDK).
My husband wants to use me for ritual – Woman tells court
Published: March 5, 2021
By: Daily Post, Nigeria – Nsikak Nseyen
A Customary Court in Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State has dissolved a six-year-old marriage between a trader, Kaosara Okeowo and her husband, Lateef, over alleged threat to life.
The mother of two had told the court that she was in danger because her husband wants to use her for ritual.
Delivering judgment, Chief Ademola Odunade, the President of the court, dissolved the marriage in the interest of peace.
NAN reports that Odunade awarded custody of the two children to Okeowo.
The arbitrator ordered Lateef to pay N10,000 as child support.
Testifying, Okeowo said, “My Lord, things are not going on well. He requests for unusual and personal things from me.”
But Lateef denied the allegations.
”She can go if she wants to leave. I want the court to order her to return his cooking utensils, clothes and a big ram in her custody,” he said.
However, Lateef’s father argued that his son was not a ritualist and that his daughter-in-law was such an opportunist who had seen another man with more money.
Source: My husband wants to use me for ritual – Woman tells court
And:
My husband uses “charms” on me during sex – Woman tells court
Published: February 5, 2021
By: Daily Post, Nigeria – Don Silas
A businesswoman, Bukola Ejalonibu, on Friday, told a Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan to dissolve her 23-year-old marriage to her estranged husband, Kolawole because he uses charms on her during sex.
In her petition, Bukola prayed the court to grant her prayer for divorce because: ”my husband uses charms on me before sleeping with me.
“My lord, my life is in danger. Every time he uses the charms, I faint and have to be hospitalised. Kolawole is a reckless drunk and can kill me,”.
She alleged that Kolawole threw her things out of the house and destroyed her supermarket.
In his defence, Kolawale said that his wife was an ingrate.
”She wants me dead so that she can inherit my property.
“I opened a multi-million Naira supermarket for her. I give her money. My wife is promiscuous,” he alleged.
After listening to the testimonies, the president of the court, Chief Ademola Odunade dissolved the marriage.
Odunade granted custody of the first two children to Kolawole and the
last two to Ejalonibu.
He ordered the respondent to pay N10,000 as monthly feeding allowance to Ejalonibu.
Source: My husband uses “charms” on me during sex – Woman tells court
And:
Man narrates how wife asked witch doctor to tie him spiritually, milk him dry
Published: January 14, 2020,
By: Daily Post, Nigeria – Annie Nwosu
A Customary Court sitting in Mapo, Ibadan, on Thursday dissolved a 15-year-old marriage between a mother of two, Olubunmi Faseyitan, and her husband, Kolawole, over ”witchcraft” suspicion.
Kolawole, who prayed for the dissolution of his 15-year-old marriage on grounds that his wife was into black magic, said he did everything possible to please her. but it was not enough.
“I abandoned the home to her after she confessed to me,” he said.
He also presented the recorded conversation between his wife and the alleged witch doctor as exhibit before the court.
In her defense, Faseyitan told the court that she never wished death on her husband.
According to her, “all I wanted was to him in bondage and make him sick, until he serves his purpose.”
”I only told the witch doctor to do it in such a way that people would be convinced that his second wife was responsible for the calamity that befell him,” she said.
Delivering Judgement, President of the court, Chief Ademola Odunade, dissolved the marriage after Faseyitan admitted that she asked a witch doctor to ”tie her husband spiritually to milk him dry”.
He said that he dissolved the union in the interest of peace and granted custody of the two children to Faseyitan.
Odunade also ordered Kolawole to pay N6,000 monthly for the children’s upkeep, NAN reports.
Source: Man narrates how wife asked witch doctor to tie him spiritually, milk him dry
And:
Court dissolves 10-year-old marriage over alleged money ritual
Published: November 24, 2020
By: Daily Post, Nigeria – Annie Nwosu
A Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan, on Tuesday dissolved a 10-year-old marriage between one Basirat Adeyoyin and estranged husband, Adeyoyin Niyi over attempted money ritual.
Basirat told the court that she was calling it quit with her husband because, “he was making desperate effort to use her for money ritual.’’
She said that she first noticed this when her husband did not show any regret after she lost her last pregnancy due to much sexual activities with him.
“Suddenly in 2018, Niyi came home one night and told me that he received a message that he must have a seven-day marathon sex with me without a gap of any day.
“I read no meaning to it and I allowed him until there was a problem.
“I was already carrying a three month-old pregnancy before that time and on the second day of the marathon sex, I lost the pregnancy.
“I took care of myself in the hospital only for Niyi to come home to start requesting for the continuation of the seven-day marathon sex even when I was still bleeding.
“Then, I consulted my parents and relatives and from every indication, we discovered that he was trying to use me for money ritual, ”Basirat said.
Her husband, Niyi in his defense said his wife was too troublesome for him and was a careless housewife.
“Even if this court would dissolve my marriage, I pray to be given custody of the two children because Basirat cannot take care of them.
“One of the young boys in our neighbourhood raped our first child and she did not tell me about the incident.
“My Lord, it was because she often overstay in the market that such a thing could happen,” Niyi added.
Delivering judgment, the President of the court, Chief Ademola Odunade said that the court would not watch until there was anarchy before making the right decision.
Odunade, therefore, dissolved the union between Basirat and Niyi in the interest of peace and tranquility.
He awarded custody of the two children produced by the union to the plaintiff and ordered the respondent to pay N10, 000 as the children’s monthly feeding allowance, NAN reports.
Source: Court dissolves 10-year-old marriage over alleged money ritual