The decision by Mr. Garba Ibrahim, 64-year old retiree to sell their family house without the consent of his ex-wife has landed him in court.
Our correspondent gathered that Ibrahim who retired as a civil servant currently resides in a two-bedroom flat at 2/2, kubwa, Abuja with his divorced wife and four children.
After twenty-six years of marriage with six children (two are now married), both parties got divorced last year after third count charge of divorce according to the Islamic rite.
Though they are now divorced, both of them still leave under one roof with their four children.
Ibrahim contemplated selling the family house in Abuja with the intention of relocating the family back to Kebbi state as he could no longer cope with the hardship in Abuja.
But his ex- wife, Aisha Umar Gadi would not want any of these. Besides, she was not a party to his planned relocation to Kebbi state to start life afresh.
Consequently she approached the Upper Area Court, sitting in Kubwa, Abuja to stop him from executing his plan. The woman’s grudge is that they both own the house and so he could not just take unilateral decision to sell the house.
30% of the money used in buying the house came from Gadi, which makes her a co-owner of the house.
As a civil servant back then, the house was offered to him and since he could only raise 70% of the asking price, his wife bailed him out with the balance of 30%.
According to Gadi, immediately after the purchase of the house, different issues arose. She said he no longer care for the family, abandoning her to take care of all the feeding, clothing, health and educational responsibility of the remaining four children with her.
She also stated that the defendant had resulted to self help by intimidating and constantly beating her during and the after marriage.
She concluded that the house would be sold on the condition that he would give her over N9million.
Breaking the money down, Gadi demanded for
“The sum of two million naira only been the money spent on over their two children’s weddings with the knowledge of the defendant.
Another sum of five hundred thousand naira only been the money spent when the defendant went to the Holy Land (Mecca) and left them with no up keep.
Also, the sum of three million naira only been the money spent on the children’s school fees.
The sum of four million naira only for the contribution she made in purchasing the house.
Above all, she also prayed the court to grant her custody of her four children (Hassan and Hussani Abubakar, Ibrahim Abubakar and Musa Abubakar).
The sum of one hundred thousand naira only for the monthly maintenance of the children or alternatively, the Defendant should leave the house pending when he can pay the money.”
Gadi counsel, Barr. F. E. John Esq said even if the defendant goes ahead to sell the house, he should pay her the 30% of the current value of the property and other monies outlined above or better still, move out of the house for them.
The counsel representing the defendant, Barr. Okechukwu Nzeukwu Esq who doubted the possibility of his client meeting the demand said the total amount that Gadi is seeking from her retiree ex-husband is over N9million naira.
Hon. Bashir Danmaisule who presided over the case adjourned the case to December 9th, 2020.
