An Abuja Upper Area Court in Kubwa has ended a 16-year-old marriage between Hajarat Isa and Muhammed Hassan over a ‘lack of love.’
Judge Mohammed Wakili granted the divorce under Islamic Law, following Hajarat’s request citing loss of love.
The judge directed that a divorce certificate be issued, exempting Hajarat from the obligatory “Iddah” waiting period since the couple had been separated since 2022.
News About Nigeria gathered that Iddah is a waiting period to be observed for three months before contracting another marriage.
The petitioner, a mother of four, testified that she entered into a marital union with the respondent in 2008, under Islamic customs.
She confessed to losing emotional attachment and seeking dissolution of the marriage due to an irreparable breakdown.
The respondent countered, claiming he had previously divorced and then remarried the petitioner in 2022, albeit in his absence while visiting his hometown.
“I will grant her a divorce but want her to return all my belongings in her possession. She sold my television, a playstation I bought for the children, and my clothes and shoes,” he said.
“We have not consummated the marriage since 2022 and I gave her a shop and capital to start up a business before I travelled. When I got back, she sold my gym equipment while I was around.
The plaintiff said that in 2022, the respondent travelled to his hometown for one year and seven months and only sent money once in a while.
“I was the only one taking care of our four children and two more he had with his ex-wife; I sold the said items to take care of our children. I am a private teacher and was paid only N15,000 when he left.
“I later fell very sick and that was when he returned. My younger brother had to come to help me with the children while my older sister took care of me,” she said.
She added that she did not sell his gym equipment but had explained to him that they got stolen and the reason she sold other items was for upkeep.
The respondent, however, told the court that he believed the plaintiff may have sold the items for upkeep while he was away and forgave her for it.
