An Ibadan man has told a Customary Court his marriage is over — not because of infidelity or violence, but because his wife refuses to apologise.
The petitioner appeared before the Mapo Customary Court on Tuesday, seeking dissolution of his union.
His reason was simple and blunt: his wife has never admitted fault.
“Since we got married, she has never said ‘I’m sorry’ or ‘I was wrong’,” he told the court. “Every disagreement ends in a standoff. There’s no peace in my home.”
According to him, the lack of remorse has turned every minor quarrel into a battle for control. The home, he said, has become a place of constant tension instead of rest.
“My house is supposed to be where I find peace after work,” he said. “But I come home to silence, coldness, and someone who won’t take responsibility for anything.”
The wife, when asked by the court, did not deny the claim. She made no attempt to defend herself or offer reconciliation. The matter was adjourned for hearing.
Legal experts say while adultery and cruelty are the most common grounds for divorce in customary courts, “irreconcilable differences” and “persistent conduct that makes the marriage unbearable” are also accepted. A refusal to apologise, if it breeds constant conflict, can fall under that category.
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For now, the court will decide if a missing “I’m sorry” is enough to end a marriage.
