Kaduna Sharia Court orders divorcee to return mattress and carpet husband bought as they were part of his bride price

KADUNA divorcee Hauwa’u Zailani has been ordered by a state sharia court to return a mattress and carpet to her husband after they marriage was annulled as the items were part of the dowry paid during courtship.

Ms Zailani, who resides in Gandarko village in Kaduna State, had filed for divorce from her husband Akilu Yakubu, who among other things she accused of abandoning her when she was ill and pregnant. She told the court that she spent eight months in her parent’s house with no news from her husband until she had a miscarriage.

Yakubu, who resides in Kabobo village, Kaduna, denied the claims, saying that his wife told him she was going home to get spiritual help. He had prayed the court to give him time to reconcile with the wife, saying he still loved her.

However, efforts to reconcile the couple proved abortive and as a result, the judge, Mallam Muhammad Shehu-Adamu, dissolved the marriage. After Zailani told the court that she was no longer interested in the union due to lack of care, he then ordered that she return the mattress and carpet which Yakubu bought for her during courtship, it they were part of his bride price.

Mallam Shehu-Adamu ruled: “The union between Hauwa’u Zailani and Akilu Yakubu is hereby dissolved based on Khul’i. She will return his dowry to him.”