A 20-year old housewife, Mercy Ekeh, has narrated how her
husband, Kelechi Ekeh, 30, forced her to marry him at the age of 17 and kept
her in captivity by locking her inside their room apartment for seven months in
Egbe, Lagos State, western Nigeria.
She said she was inside the room until he impregnated her
and thereafter forced her parents to collect N300 as her bride price.
and thereafter forced her parents to collect N300 as her bride price.
But her husband said his decision to keep her in the room
was not intended to punish her, saying he was showing her love and caring
because he did not want her to suffer in his home.
was not intended to punish her, saying he was showing her love and caring
because he did not want her to suffer in his home.
Anambra State-born Mercy narrated her plight at Ejigbo
Customary Court, Lagos, where she filed a suit for the dissolution of the
marriage.
Customary Court, Lagos, where she filed a suit for the dissolution of the
marriage.
She also told the court that during her captivity she was
not allowed to see anybody or her parents.
not allowed to see anybody or her parents.
She said whenever Ekeh
went to work, he would lock her inside and provide a small bucket for
her to ease herself inside the room.
went to work, he would lock her inside and provide a small bucket for
her to ease herself inside the room.
She said she was only allowed to come out in the night
briefly when he returned from work and opened the door and did not allow her do
anything else.
briefly when he returned from work and opened the door and did not allow her do
anything else.
The embittered woman said her ordeal started in 2012 when
she went to sit for Joint Admission and Matriculation Examination, JAMB.
she went to sit for Joint Admission and Matriculation Examination, JAMB.
She said on that Saturday, Ekeh accosted her along Liasu
road in Egbe.
road in Egbe.
Mercy alleged that Ekeh cast a spell on her after he touched
her and commanded her to go to her parents’ house and bring her property and
come and live with him.
her and commanded her to go to her parents’ house and bring her property and
come and live with him.
She said she obeyed without knowing what had come over her.
She said while she was in Ekeh’s home, her parents searched
everywhere for her and went to the police and reported that she was missing
until one of Ekeh’s neighbours who observed what was happening told her mom
about where she was.
everywhere for her and went to the police and reported that she was missing
until one of Ekeh’s neighbours who observed what was happening told her mom
about where she was.
It was then Ekeh was arrested and she regained her freedom
after he impregnated her.
after he impregnated her.
Mercy said Ekeh later went to her parents and pleaded for
forgiveness and it was then, he brought N300 and paid as her bride price.
forgiveness and it was then, he brought N300 and paid as her bride price.
She said the incident has traumatized her as Ekeh has ruined
her life, while her mates are in school pursuing their education.
her life, while her mates are in school pursuing their education.
She asked the court to dissolve the marriage and compel Ekeh
to take care of the baby.
to take care of the baby.
In his response, Ekeh denied all the allegations and told
the court that he does not want the marriage dissolved because he loves Mercy.
the court that he does not want the marriage dissolved because he loves Mercy.
On packing to his house, he said it was a choice Mercy made
before she got pregnant and he had to marry her by paying her dowry. The
president of the court, Mr A.K. Akanni adjourned the matter till 18 June for
continuation of trial.
before she got pregnant and he had to marry her by paying her dowry. The
president of the court, Mr A.K. Akanni adjourned the matter till 18 June for
continuation of trial.
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