HALIRU USMAN V. HAJARA USMAN

MUHAMMAD, JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): The claim of the respondent as plaintiff at the Kilba Area Court Grade I, Hong, (trial court) against the appellant as defendant is as follows:-

“I, Hajara Usman hereby suing my husband Haliru Usman before this court to dissolve my marriage with him because I love him no more and whenever I was in his house, he has not been providing food to me. He has also been abusing me and beating me and abusing my parents and maltreating them, I will not stay with him I want the court separate us.” (italics supplied for emphasis).

The appellant denied all the allegations and put the respondent to the strictest proof. Two witnesses testified in favour of the plaintiff. The defendant did not call any evidence. The trial court afforded several opportunities to the parties to consider the possibility of amicable settlement of the case. In the process, the plaintiff reconsidered her claim and reviewed it by abandoning some aspects thereof. Below i…