A businessman in Kaduna State, Auwal Musa, has approached a Sharia Court sitting in Magajin Gari, seeking an order compelling his former wife, Hauwa, to return to their matrimonial home, claiming he divorced her “under duress”.
Musa, 40, told the court that although he pronounced a single divorce on his wife, he later sought to revoke it before the expiration of her waiting period, known as iddah, but she refused to reconcile with him.
“I signed the divorce papers under duress. I gave one pronouncement of divorce to her and later went to their house to cancel the divorce before she finished the Iddah, but she refused to come back,” he said.
The businessman also accused his former wife of leaving with several household items and personal belongings following the dissolution of their marriage.
According to him, the items include a television set, a gas cylinder, an electric kettle, two caps and documents belonging to his father.
He urged the court to direct Hauwa to return the items.
In her response, Hauwa maintained that Musa’s attempt to reconcile came only after she had completed her iddah, making his effort to revoke the divorce ineffective.
She admitted taking some of the items listed by her former husband but denied taking others.
“I only took his plasma TV and gas cylinder. I am keeping the items pending when he pays me the N31,500 he owes me,” she said.
“He gave me the electric kettle as a gift while we were courting.
“I have no idea where his caps and father’s documents are.”
After listening to both parties, the presiding judge, Murtala Nasir, adjourned the matter for further hearing.
Nasir also advised Musa to return home and conduct a thorough search for the missing documents while the court continues to consider the case.
