A court in northern Nigeria has dissolved an Islamic marriage between AbdulKareem Ramata and Suleiman Yahya following a mutual agreement to end the union, while making provisions for child custody and financial support.
Delivering the verdict, Judge Idris Etsu of the Area Court in Ilorin confirmed the dissolution, stating that the mutual desire for separation was sufficient grounds for granting the divorce. “Where both parties agree to go their separate ways, it is not in the court’s place to compel reconciliation,” he said.
The court awarded full custody of the couple’s three children to Ms Ramata. Mr Yahya was instructed to pay ₦25,000 monthly for their feeding and bear full responsibility for their schooling and medical care.
In accordance with Islamic legal practice, the father was granted unlimited access to the children and was permitted to spend religious festivals such as Eid with them.
The divorce application, initially filed by Ms Ramata, cited emotional incompatibility and lack of affection as the basis for ending the marriage. Mr Yahya, in response, did not object to the separation and supported the custody arrangement, but requested that the children spend holiday periods with him.
While he initially proposed to contribute ₦20,000 monthly for the children’s welfare and stated he would “do his best” to meet their educational and health-related expenses, the court increased the figure and made those responsibilities binding.
The case highlights the application of Islamic family law in Nigeria’s legal system, particularly in regions where Shariah law coexists with civil courts in matters of personal and family disputes.
