Businessman seeks bride price refund as marriage hits roadblock

Haruna Adamu, a businessman, appeared before the Magajin Gari Shari’a Court in Kaduna State, seeking the return of his estranged wife, Salamatu Abubakar, to their matrimonial home or a refund of the bride price he paid to her parents.

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Adamu, who expressed financial constraints preventing him from marrying another wife, urged the court to intervene in the matter. He stated, “If my wife is not willing to return to me, she should refund the bride price I paid to her parents.”

The businessman recounted that he entered into the marriage with Abubakar, who was a divorcee at the time. However, their union lasted for only eight months, with a peaceful period limited to the initial two months. Subsequently, issues arose, leading to Abubakar relocating to her parents’ residence.

Despite being separated, Adamu claimed that he had been financially supporting his estranged wife for the past six months, sending money and foodstuff to her while she stayed with her parents.

In his plea to the court, Adamu expressed his desire to reconcile with Abubakar but emphasized that if she was unwilling to return, he hoped for a refund to facilitate his remarriage due to financial constraints.

Abubakar, on the other hand, argued that she left the matrimonial home due to alleged physical abuse by Adamu. She claimed that her husband lacked empathy for her sick mother, contributing to the breakdown of their marriage. Abubakar expressed a preference for refunding the N75,000 dowry her husband paid to her parents instead of returning to their marital home.

The presiding Judge, Malam Isiyaku Abdulrahman, adjourned the case to January 17, 2024, for further hearing. The extension allows Adamu to present a comprehensive list of the claimed items and evidence of the expenses he purportedly incurred during their marriage. The court will carefully evaluate the circumstances to reach a fair resolution for both parties involved.