Divorce Seeking Wife wants Husband to pay for satisfaction

By Iyojo Ameh

Mrs. Hauwa Hamza has approached the Upper Court in Kubwa, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), seeking the dissolution of her marriage with her husband, Yahaya Mohammed, on grounds of a lack of care and respect.

Mr. Mohammed and Ms. Hamza, who got married according to Islamic law in 2020, are childless. However, the husband, a businessman, has requested that he be reimbursed the sum of N160,000 he claims to have spent on her.

Speaking before the court, Mr. Mohammed stated, ”If she wants a divorce, she has to get me another wife.

I want my wife to pay me all I spent on her at our wedding. I paid N60,000 as dowry to marry my wife and spent N100,000 on her clothes. I insist that she pays me back the total sum.”

In response, the plaintiff argued that if it were Islamically appropriate for her to find a wife for her husband before he granted her a divorce, she would be willing to do so. She also contested Mr. Mohammed’s claims, saying that her dowry was only N60,000.

“I do not have N160,000 to give him, only if he can also pay me for the satisfaction I gave to him during the marriage and the cooking I have done over the years,” she stated.

Mr. Mohammed countered that he had catered to her feeding and welfare throughout their marriage.

Judge Mohammed Wakili weighed in, emphasizing that it was not Islamically appropriate for the plaintiff to find another wife for her husband before he granted her a divorce.

The case has been adjourned until October 17 for judgment.