An Upper Area Court in Gwagwalada, Abuja, has dissolved a 15-year-old marriage between a public servant, Okpanachi Yahaya and his estranged wife, Zainab Adejoh over infidelity.

The Judge, Malam Abdullahi Abdulkareem, dissolved the marriage according to Islamic Law, following Yahaya’s prayer for divorce on grounds of infidelity.

Abdulkareem ordered Adejoh to observe “Iddah” (waiting period) of three months according to Islamic injunction, before contracting another marriage.

He added that the issue of child custody which the petitioner brought before the court should be filed as a separate suit.

Earlier, the petitioner had told the court that he got married to the respondent under Islamic law on Sept.14, 2019, and is blessed with two children, ages 14 and 12.

He said that he noticed that the respondent started having extramarital affairs in 2019.

“I saw Adejoh hiding in the kitchen talking to another man and when I interrogated her, she assaulted me physically and verbally,” Yahaya said.

He said that he had been sick in the last four months, hospitalised and eventually taken to his village in Kogi but the respondent never visited him and continued her illicit relationships.

He said the respondent went to his office while he was away in the village and collected money on his behalf without his consent.

Yahaya said that it was discovered according to his native law and custom that the root of his ailment was the respondent’s illicit relationships with other men.

“Adejoh was invited by my kinsmen for a peaceful resolution regarding our dispute but she declined.

“There is no more love and peace in the marriage,  I want the marriage dissolved, ” he said.

The respondent, however, consented to the divorce.

In another development, a Grade I Area Court in Kubwa, Abuja, on Thursday dissolved an 18-year-old marriage between a housewife, Hafizar Saidu and her husband, Aminu Usman over his lack of care.

The Judge, Malam Yahaya Sheshi dissolved the marriage following Saidu’s prayer to the court for a divorce on grounds of lack of care and battery.

Sheshi ordered Saidu to observe “Iddah” which is a waiting period to be observed for three months before contracting another marriage.

Earlier, Saidu told the court that she married Usman according to Islamic Personal Law and is blessed with five children.

”Usman does not take care of me or the family, he beats me and accuses me wrongly.

”He went to my family, beat them up and threatened to kill my parents, I have had enough, I want the marriage to be dissolved,” she said.

The respondent however denied the allegations against him and consented to the divorce.

“If I do not divorce her, my life is in danger, her family members beat me up and I was rushed to the hospital for treatment as a result, I pray for the court to grant her wish,” Usman said.