‘He Squeezes My Breasts,’ Wife Tells Court as Judge Dissolves 10-Year Marriage Over Battery

‘He Squeezes My Breasts,’ Wife Tells Court as Judge Dissolves 10-Year Marriage Over Battery

NASARAWA, NIGERIA – A Mararaba Upper Area Court in Nasarawa State has dissolved the 10-year-old marriage between Mercy Okolie and her husband, Henry Nwaodi, on grounds of battery, granting the mother of four custody of their children after she testified that her husband smokes Indian hemp, beats her, and squeezes her breasts during assaults . Delivering judgment, the judge, Abubakar Tijjani, said all efforts to reconcile the parties had failed. “This union was dissolved in the interest of peace. I also urge the parties to maintain peace at all time. Any violation of this order of the court will amount to contempt with grave consequences,” he said . According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Tijjani directed the parties to collect their divorce certificate from the registrar’s office .

The court granted custody of their four children to Mercy. Additionally, the judge ordered Nwaodi to pay N20,000 to Mercy as monthly upkeep and N34,000 for each child’s school fees per term . In her petition, Mercy alleged that her husband was irresponsible and a brute. “My husband has failed in his matrimonial obligations towards me and our children. He has also failed to provide me and our children with the basic necessities. I have been providing for the home financially. I feed and pay the house rent,” she told the court . She further detailed the physical abuse she endured. “My husband smokes cigarette and Indian hemp, and is hostile to our children. Henry beats me at the slightest provocation and squeezes my breasts. He always threatens to kill me,” she said . Mercy pleaded with the court to separate them, stating: “There is no longer love in our union and nothing can bring us together again.” The respondent did not object to the separation.

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The dissolution of this marriage comes amid ongoing efforts by the Nasarawa State Government to combat Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and strengthen legal protections for victims of domestic abuse. The state has adopted both the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act and the Child Rights Act (CRA) . According to a report by the Stand to End Rape (STER) Initiative, Nasarawa State is among eight states in Nigeria, alongside Delta, Ekiti, FCT, Kogi, Oyo, Borno, and Ebonyi, that have achieved a 100% implementation score for these legislative frameworks . The Nasarawa State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Aisha Ibrahim Rufai, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eradicating GBV. “Gender-based violence should not be tolerated,” she said, emphasizing that the state government has put in place adequate measures to eradicate GBV and provide succor to victims . However, despite strong legislative adoption, challenges remain in community awareness. Data reveals that only 17% of states conduct community awareness campaigns about these legislations more than 20 times per year, underscoring a gap between legislative adoption and public understanding .

Nasarawa State has witnessed several high-profile cases of gender-based violence in recent months, reflecting the persistent challenges facing survivors. In April 2026, a 37-year-old pastor, Asonye Isaiah, was arrested for allegedly defiling a 16-year-old girl under the guise of performing spiritual cleansing. The pastor reportedly deceived the victim’s aunt, claiming the teenager was “possessed” and needed cleansing at a river. Instead, he took her to a hotel in New Karshi, where he allegedly had unlawful carnal knowledge of her twice and threatened to kill her if she disclosed the incident . The Nasarawa State Police Command confirmed the arrest, and the Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed, directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Lafia for comprehensive investigation and prosecution . In another landmark case, the Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, Justice Aisha Bashir-Aliyu, sentenced a man, Ahmadu Yaro, to 21 years in prison for raping a three-month-old infant in Adogi village. The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, praised the ruling, describing it as a watershed moment in Nigeria’s fight to protect children from sexual violence . She called on other states to emulate Nasarawa’s example, urging families, communities, law enforcement, and the judiciary to collaborate in building a safer Nigeria for all children. “Let this ruling serve as a turning point; a signal to all offenders that Nigeria will no longer shield those who violate her children,” she said.

‘He Squeezes My Breasts,’ Wife Tells Court as Judge Dissolves 10-Year Marriage Over Battery