A 25-year-old woman, Zainab Musa, on Wednesday, returned the N100,000 dowry she received
from her husband, Musa Sani, in exchange for a divorce at Rigasa Shari’a Court, Kaduna.
The woman had earlier prayed that the court should dissolve her two-year-old marriage through the Khul’i (redemption), an Islamic
ruling that gives a woman the right to redeem herself from marriage.
Mr M.S Aliyu, who represented the parties as neutral counsel, said all efforts to reconcile the couple through their parents proved abortive.
He said, “The couple’s parents have agreed that the N100,000 dowry paid during the wedding be returned, and we have the money in cash.
“As for the one child they have, Zainab’s parents will accept any amount the defendant can afford as upkeep allowance.”
The husband said he still loves his wife but has no choice but to let her go since she is no longer interested in the marriage, adding that he has accepted the N100,000 dowry.
The Judge, Malam Mukhtar Aliyu, confirmed the dissolution of the marriage through Khul’i, adding that the complaint should start observing her iddah immediately.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Iddah is a waiting period that a Muslim woman observes after the death of her husband or after a divorce.
The waiting period for a divorced woman is three menstrual cycles, as one of its primary purposes is to remove any doubt as to the paternity of a child born
after the divorce or death of the prior husband.
The judge said, “Anyone that is not satisfied with the judgment can appeal within 30 days.”
