An upper area court in Kubwa, Abuja, dissolved a 17-year-old loveless marriage between Modupe Lawal and her husband, Ismaila.

The judge, Mohammed Wakili, dissolved the marriage according to Islamic law, following Ms Modupe’s prayer for divorce.

Mr Wakili ordered Ms Modupe to observe “Iddah,” which is a waiting period of three months before contracting another marriage.

Earlier, the petitioner, a mother of three, told the court she got married to the respondent under Islamic law on October 24, 2007.

She said the children are aged 17, 15, and 12.

Ms Lawal said the respondent sent her out of his house on June 17, 2023, and they have lived apart since then.

The respondent, however, told the court that he sent his wife packing because she decided to become a title holder in Jiwa, which he did not approve of.

“I told her that if she decides to receive the title, she should pack her things and leave my house,” Mr Ismaila said.

However, the petitioner explained to the court that her husband supported her being a titleholder when she brought it to his knowledge.

“After he gave me permission to go ahead with the title, he came back home and changed his mind about it on the day of the ceremony, when plans had been put in place,” she said.

The petitioner added that her husband threatened her life if she slept in his house, so she packed her things and left.

The respondent, however, told the court that he had not been able to settle with his wife, adding that the court should grant her wish.

“If she insists she wants a divorce, I cannot force her to stay,” he said. 

(NAN)