In a dramatic turn of events, Aku Bakari, a civil servant residing in Nyanya, Abuja, has taken his wife, Mary, to the Customary Court, accusing her of neglecting her marital and maternal duties due to her excessive engagement in church activities.
According to Bakari, Mary’s relentless devotion to church affairs has resulted in her neglecting her family. He lamented, “My wife no longer has time for me and our children. She is always at the church, sometimes staying from Friday until Sunday evening, oblivious to our well-being.”
Bakari disclosed his failed attempts to dissuade Mary from her intense church involvement, which has led to a strain in their relationship. He traced the genesis of their marital discord to Mary’s abrupt change in behavior around 2010, marked by a shift in her dressing style and religious practices.
Highlighting the contentious issue, Bakari mentioned, “She stopped wearing jewelry, claiming they were of devilish origin. She also abandoned our family church, the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (NCCN), and began attending another church where she appears to be indoctrinated.”
In response, Mary, a cleaner, refuted the allegations leveled against her, denying any wrongdoing.
The presiding judge, Doocivir Yawe, urged the couple to settle their differences for the sake of their children and scheduled the next hearing for January 30.
This marital dispute serves as a sobering reminder of the delicate balance between religious devotion and familial responsibilities, prompting introspection on the impact of zealous religious engagement on personal relationships.
