A father, Aliyu Muhammad, has been dragged before a Shari’a Court in Kaduna State, for attempting to force his 20-year-old daughter, Fatima, to marry a stranger.
Fatima, on Monday, told the court she is in love with a man different from who her father is presenting.
Speaking through her counsel, Malam Y.A Bulama, the complainant prayed the court to stop her father.
“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,” the counsel said.
The counsel further told the court that the complainant did not file a suit against her father out of disrespect for him.
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Answering for the allegations levelled against him, the defendant stated that he had to respect the wishes of his parents, which is the choice of husband they made for Fatima when they were alive.
He said, “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.”
The judge, Malam Isiyaku Abdulrahman, held that a father has the right to choose a husband for his daughter under Shari’a law.
He however noted that forced marriage was not encouraged while advising the defendant to be patient with his daughter.
“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”, he said.
He also advised the complainant to be a respectful daughter.