If a couple intend to get properties or assets, in who's name should it be? I hope we have lawyers who can shed more light on this.
Here's the story:
A man gave his wife some money to buy them a new house, since he could afford it, especially now when he has started "making it". Prior to this time, they lived in Ajegunle, and when ever it rained, the house got flooded, and live was never fun during the *rainy* seasons. She finally got them a three bedroom flat at ketu area, arguably a lagos exterior, they moved in without further delay, launching into a new episode of their lives.
This phase surely marked the begining of a new marital adventure.
Nife(wife) was a fun lover, she made new aso-ebi, friends and attended parties almost every weekend in order to keep up with her clique. Whenever Tunji (her husband) confronted her, she would pick up quarrels with him which either left the pair nagging all day or most often fighting and throwing abusive words at each other. Six months down the line, Tunji asked his wife to create some space, (space? Yes) move out of the house as he could no longer tolerate her new found habit of sleeping out every weekend, and she doesn't appear like she was ready for a change of character.
Tunji asked his wife to pack out of his house, and he got the shocker of his life. It all seemed a joke to him when she told him him point blank that he should be the one moving out, as the house was her's and not he's. As far as the matter was concered the joke angle could only be seen by Tunji, there was no iota of joke found anywhere in Nife's words or action.
Barely 24hrs after Tunji's pronouncement, she left the house to return with two fierce looking police men who would isten to no words but bundled Tunji into their waiting van. Alas she had reported in her statement that attempted and is still in the want-to-do of selling her house. This, Tunji refuted with disgust, claiming he owned the house and only gave his wife the money to purchase it on his behalf, since he wanted to allow her buy her choice and taste. On arrival at the police station, he was asked to provide the receipt of the house in order to prove his claims, but he couldn't, since the said receipt has always been in the custody of his wife.
The officers ordered that the reciept be produced without delay, as there were other pending cases in que at the police station.
A collapse was the least that could happen to Tunji as his wife of 10yrs presented a house reciept because it wasn't carrying her full and complete names, not even his surnmame Ajagbe appeared on that reciept.
*Sigh*, obviously he had no evidence to show that he owned or paid for the apartment in question. Cutting this story to fit time, he was given a 24hr ultimatum to move out or risk tough legal sanctions.
We all know in this part of the world that the trend is; threatening the woman to leave the house, while the man lay claims to the properties, unlike in the western world where the woman asks the man to leave. Call it cultural shock or Tradition , you might have your candid reasons.
We all know there is a strife among couples nowadays, bothering about who's name properties should be bought in. The seperate account syndrome, seperate bedroom idea, and lots of insecurity can be found in many homes today. Let's not dare go into the secrets and scandals that characterize many marriages.
...Back to the story,
How Tunji would handle this shock I don't know. But again, I ask myself, what if it was the other way round?
The way marriages are designed nowadays or should I say the rationale behind most of these marriages is based on falsehood, lies and hidden agendas. I am not going into marriage today. But, I feel the matter should not have gotten this far.
Maybe, they should have bought the property in the children's name?
Maybe they should have explored the Mr & Mrs option? We can all but debate.
One thing is certain, this will not go down easily without a fight, be it Physical, spiritual or Emotional.
Its a quest for the real house owner... One criminal is about getting justice, another is going down.
Who owns this house?, and on what basis should either of them be condemned to a jail term if they should?
In whose name should a couple's properties be bought???
