Benign : Justice on the heels of unconscious husbands

In Benin, a father who has deliberately left the home exposes himself to legal proceedings, especially in the event of a complaint from the wife. The penalty provided by the legislator is expressed in imprisonment and a fine..

Husbands who run away must understand that the law provides for draconian penalties.  In a country where men give themselves the licentiousness of deserting the household for a long time, it is then up to the State to protect women against loneliness at home. It is to this logic that the article responds. 603 of Law No. 2018-16 of 28 December 2018 on the penal code in the Republic of Benin :

"Shall be punished with imprisonment for three (03) month to one (01) year and a fine of fifty (50.000) one thousand to two hundred and fifty thousand (250.000) CFA francs :

1-the father or the mother of the family who will give up without a valid reason for more than two (02) months the family residence and will have evaded all or part of the moral and material obligations resulting from parental authority or legal guardianship ; the time limit of two (02) month can only be interrupted by a return home implying the desire to resume family life definitively :

2-the husband who, without valid reason, voluntarily give up, for more than two (02) month, his wife knowing she was pregnant…”.

This is a provision that has been in effect since 2018 but which remains unknown to the general public. This is a measure of protection for women against the zeal of prankster husbands. Based on this article of the law, the judge then has the latitude to pronounce severe judgments according to the aggravating circumstances. It is then up to the spouses to be careful not to be pinned.

Médice AGBEHOUNKO