A 20-year-old woman named Fatima has taken her father, Aliyu Muhammad, to a Shari’a Court in Kaduna, alleging that he forced her to marry a stranger. According to Fatima, she is in love with someone else, but her father threatened to take her to the village and marry her off to a man in their village in Niger state.
“The father wants my client to marry a man in their village in Niger state. Right now she’s living in her aunty’s house because he threatened to take her to the village and marry her off.”
Her lawyer, Malam Y.A Bulama, clarified that his client filed the suit not out of disrespect but because her father was trying to force her into an unwanted marriage.
In response, Aliyu Muhammad stated that his late parents had chosen a groom for his daughter, and he had to respect their wishes.
“I married my six daughters off in the village and they are doing well. Fatima’s mother is the brains behind her stubbornness. I need permission to consult with my people over this matter.”
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The judge, Malam Isiyaku Abdulrahman, acknowledged a father’s right to choose a husband for his daughter under Shari’a law but discouraged forced marriage. He urged Aliyu Muhammad to be patient with his daughter and consider allowing her to marry the person she loves if he meets the necessary religious and character requirements.
“You are her father, therefore you should pray for the best for her because if you are angry with her she won’t see good things.
“Allow her to present the person she wants to marry and if you are pleased with his religion and character, you allow her to get married”
