‘He prevents me from seeing my children’

A woman, Olawunmi Tanimowo, has pleaded with the Agege Customary Court, Lagos to ask her partner, Taofik, to let her see her children.

Olawunmi, a 40-year-old petty trader, had lived with Taofik for about 10 years and had had four children for him, although they were not legally married.

They began living together in 1998 and she left his house about four years ago. She said that her children live with Taofik, except their eldest child.

She told the court that Taofik does not allow her to visit her children and neither does he permit them to come to her for holiday.

Taofik, however, denied that he prevented her from seeing her children.

He said he told her that if she wanted to see her kids, she should go and see them in school.

He told the court that he had remarried and he had told Olawunmi that he did not want to see her in his house because they were separated for about four years.

Olawunmi told the court that he did not tell her anything about school and that it was only his house she knew.

She said even when she bought clothes and underwear for her kids, she had to stay in front of Taofik’s house to see them and give them the materials.

Emmanuel Shokunle, the court president, adjourned the case till Oct. 3, 2012.

Culled from the punchng