A man, Ibrahim Tanko has dragged his former fiancée, Abigail Hammam, and her mother before the Upper Area Court in Marraba Gurku, Abuja, over an alleged breach of agreement to formalise marriage.

Mr Tanko filed the case against Ms Hamman and her mother, Ms Hannatu, who live in New Nyanya, Karu, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

According to the particulars of claim, the plaintiff averred that he met Ms Hammam in 2012 and sought her hand in marriage.

He said he approached Ms Hannatu for her permission to perform all marriage rites, which she granted on the condition that her daughter would not convert from Christianity to Islam and that family approval would be obtained.

The plaintiff further averred that while awaiting family approval, he and Ms Hammam got intimate, which led to the birth of their daughter.

He said he took full custody and care of the child and that she later moved in with him.

“She moved in with me with her mother’s permission while we awaited the final family for the marriage.

“After much delay, I discovered that the defendants were playing games with me because they had reached a decision not to allow the marriage.

“My former fiancée became hostile and later left me, taking our daughter away for over three months, before returning to push for custody,” he said.

The plaintiff averred that due to his former fiancee’s confrontation and violence, he reported the matter to the Mpape Police Station, where it was resolved that he should retain custody of their daughter, while the mother would have access.

He alleged that the agreement remained unaltered until the defendants allegedly took the child away for over five months without his consent.

He later discovered that after taking the child, his former fiancee got married to another man, with whom she is presently living, and dumped their daughter with her mother without his consent.

Mr Tanko added that he has been solely responsible for the upbringing, education, and welfare of their daughter since birth.

He, however, said efforts to get the defendants to return the child to him failed, and the child’s education and welfare now hang in the balance.

Mr Tanko is praying the court for an order granting him custody of his daughter and an order granting his former fiancee reasonable visitation rights at reasonable times with reasonable notice, structured to suit the child’s welfare, schooling and emotional needs.

The judge, Mohammed Yakubu, adjourned the matter until June 25, 2026, for hearing. 

(NAN)