Friday, July 17, 2026

Abuja man divorces wife of 19 years over prayerlessness

Mr Adamu said that in Islam, a man has the power to divorce his wife saying that Rashidat told the court that she had observed her “Iddah”.

• September 1, 2022
Photo used to illustrate divorce
Photo used to illustrate divorce

A man has told a Grade I Area Court in Kubwa, Abuja, that he divorced his wife after 19 years of marriage because she does not observe daily prayers, among other irreconcilable differences.

“She does not observe her daily prayers and does not like my family members. I asked her to follow me to the village so that we can resolve issues on why she dislikes my mother and she refused.

“I pronounced divorce to her on June 6 and she has observed her iddah. I am no longer interested in the marriage and have informed her parents,” Lukman Abdul Aziz told the court.

Rashidat, his wife, in response, told the court that Mr Abdulaziz told her on August 27, that he had not been making love to her for the past three months because he wanted a divorce.

“He said he would fend for our four children but wanted me to leave his house because he wanted to sell it.

“I told him the house belongs to my children because I built the house with him, it is not his house,” she said.

Mr Abdulaziz prayed the court to confirm the divorce of his wife, Rashidat, after he had already done so, according to Islamic injunction.

The Judge, Muhammad Adamu, therefore dissolved the marriage following Abdulaziz’s prayers.

Mr Adamu said that in Islam, a man has the power to divorce his wife saying that Rashidat told the court that she had observed her “Iddah”. 

He said Rashidat was no longer Mr Abdulaziz’s wife and advised them to find time and discuss the upkeep of their four children. 

The judge said that the court would issue a certificate of divorce. 

NAN

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Released Oyo hostages

Education

UNICEF praises Nigerian government for rescuing kidnapped Oriire schoolchildren

UNICEF has commended the Nigerian government for rescuing 39 abducted schoolchildren and five teachers in Oyo state.

Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni

States

Yobe governor to spend N73 billion on agric empowerment, other projects

The Yobe government has approved N73.3 billion for various projects and services in the state.

Collage of TVs

Showbiz

Five things Nigerians need to know about FG’s FreeTV

The federal government has launched FreeTV, a subscription-free digital television platform designed to expand access to television services for millions of Nigerians.

Du Plessis, Usman

Hot news Home top

South Africa’s Du Plessis, Nigeria’s Usman face off in UFC showdown in Oklahoma

The middleweight main event takes place at the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Fight Night in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.

Gold bars

Africa

UK sanctions 11 people, entities linked to illicit gold networks fuelling Sudan’s war

London said the sanctions are intended to disrupt networks using Sudan’s gold trade to finance the conflict.

Scene of the incident

Africa

Eleven children killed, 19 injured in Algeria orphanage fire

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune described the tragedy as a huge loss.