Nigerian civil servant sues for divorce as wife tests HIV positive

Silas Dodo, a 38-year old civil servant, has prayed an Upper Area Court, in Mararraba, Nasarawa State, to dissolve his marriage with his wife because she is HIV-positive.

Dodo told the court that he wanted to divorce his 35-year-old wife, whom he married in 2007. He told the court that his wife was found to be HIV-positive following a recent test they both had.

Dodo also informed the court that he met his wife in 2002 at the Federal University of Technology, Yola, and they got married in 2007 in a church.

He explained that, before their wedding, they were both screened on the church’s directive for HIV, and the result indicated they were HIV-negative.

According to him, not too long after their marriage, his sexual relationship with his wife deteriorated as she started denying him of sex. The complainant said his wife was always falling sick, a condition that compelled him to take her to several hospitals for test where she was found to be HIV-positive.

He said when he found that she was HIV-positive he instructed his lawyer to write her and his church. Dodo told the court his wife later packed out of their matrimonial home in Masaka and went to live on her own at Auta Balaifi.

In her response the woman, who was not represented by a counsel, admitted that the HIV test results tendered by her husband were genuine.

Counsel to the complainant, Mr Elisah Onaji, therefore urged the court to adjourn the case to another date. The presiding officer, Mr. Vincent Gwahemba, adjourned the matter till March 31 for continuation of hearing.