Kaduna: Father drags 27-year-old daughter to Shari’a court over delayed marriage

A family dispute over marriage took a legal turn Tuesday at the Shari’a Court II, Magajin Gari, Kaduna, when a father of 11 asked the court to compel his 27-year-old daughter to accept a suitor and get married.
The complainant, Lawal Hamisu, told the court through his counsel, H.B Debo, that his daughter, Fatima Lawal, had completed her Higher National Diploma (HND), but was allegedly turning down marriage proposals while entertaining several admirers.
“She should get a suitor, present him in court, and the court should marry her off since her mother has poisoned their minds against me,” Hamisu said.
Responding, Fatima told the court she had no serious suitor, adding that none of her admirers had formally proposed marriage to her.
The presiding judge, Malam Yakubu Abdullahi, described the case as sensitive because it involved a parent and child.
He said he would hold separate discussions with both parties to understand their positions better and offer advice.
At Tuesday’s court session, both father and daughter presented different realities.
While Hamisu insisted his daughter was wasting time and blamed her mother’s influence, Fatima maintained she was waiting for a genuine proposal, not a casual relationship.
The judge adjourned the case for further mediation, emphasizing that the goal is not to force marriage but to restore understanding and guide the family toward a resolution acceptable under Islamic law.
Legal and religious experts note that cases like this are increasingly making their way to Shari’a courts across northern Nigeria, often stemming from breakdowns in communication between parents and adult children.
Counsel and court mediators say many disputes originate from unresolved marital issues between parents.
“It was gathered that when marriages end in divorce, children are often caught in the middle.
Psychologists and Islamic scholars warn that the chaos caused by divorce can last years, with children experiencing confusion, mistrust, and pressure to take sides.
“Many homes lack a united parental front, leaving daughters especially vulnerable to conflicting advice, fathers sometimes pushing early marriage as stability, while mothers, out of hurt or fear, discourage trusting men altogether.
“It is the children who suffer most when there is no peace in the home.
“Some grow up resenting both parents. Others delay marriage out of fear, while some rush into it to escape tension at home,” a Kaduna-based counselor working with family cases stated.
Observers say this case highlights a broader social challenge: balancing parental authority, a woman’s right to choose, and the long-term effects broken homes have on children’s views of marriage.
As the court works to reconcile the parties, advocates call for more family counseling and community mediation before disputes escalate to litigation, emphasizing that protecting children from divorce fallout requires parents to prioritize their child’s welfare over personal grievances.