A Kaduna-based businessman, Auwal Musa, has filed a case before a Sharia Court in Magajin Gari, asking the court to order his former wife, Hauwa, to return to their marital home, arguing that he divorced her while under pressure.
Musa, 40, told the court that he issued only one divorce pronouncement but later attempted to reverse it before the completion of her iddah (waiting period). However, according to him, Hauwa declined to resume the marriage.
“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.
He further alleged that after the separation, Hauwa left with several household belongings and personal items. These, he claimed, included a television, a gas cylinder, an electric kettle, two caps, and documents belonging to his late father.
Musa therefore requested that the court compel her to return the items.
Responding to the allegations, Hauwa argued that her former husband’s reconciliation attempt came after she had already completed her iddah, making the revocation of the divorce invalid.
She acknowledged taking some of the listed items but denied possessing 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 hearing submissions from both parties, the presiding judge, Murtala Nasir, adjourned the matter for further proceedings.
The judge also advised Musa to conduct a thorough search for the missing documents while the court continues to deliberate on the case.
