Funmi Lawrence
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called for strict caution on the media trial over defamation of character of its former Vice President, Musa Abubakar for being married to one Nasiba Dauda.
Mr Danielson Akpan, the National President of the association at a news conference in Abuja said the social media speculation defaming the name of its former executive was unwanted, calling on parties involved to obey court order.
Akpan advised that the court order should be strictly obeyed, saying that the parties should desist from employing the social media trial in addressing the matter.
According to him, Nasiba was married to Abubakar sometimes in December 2016 and a few months into the marriage, she absconded from the marriage due to ceaseless interference and upon instruction from her father.
” It was gathered that Nasiba with the full backing of her father instituted a legal action before the Grade 1 Sharia court in Kaduna seeking for the divorce.
” The divorce which is through Khul; a situation in which a woman seek for divorce via the Sharia legal system upon returns of dowry and other marriage expenses thereto.
“And on January 5, 2018, the Grade 1 Sharia court pronounced a dissolution of the marriage without recourse to principles of natural justice and fairness to concerned parties.
“Abubakar not satisfied with the judgment of the lower sharia court obtained an order for stay of execution which served on the respondent and subsequently appealed against the decision of the lower court at the upper sharia court, Kawo, Kaduna.
“The Kawo Upper sharia court gave judgment in favour of Abubakar by quashing and setting aside the judgement of the lower sharia court on February 28, 2018 on ground that the Grade 1 Sharia court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the said case.”
Akpan added that on the premise of the judgment at the upper sharia court, Abubakar filed a suit for the recall of his wife to her matrimonial home before the upper Area Court, Gudu, Abuja which was subsequently transferred to Grade 1 Area Court, Gudu in a suit no. CV/233/18.
He said the case was however not determined and still pending before the court while Nasida also filed several suits before different courts which were also still pending.
Akpan said while these were going on, Nasida through the instigation of her father, Alhaji Sani Dauda in connivance with one lower sharia court judge consummated another marriage for Nasiba with one Abdullahi Kaloma.
He said they did this when the marriage between Nasiba and Abubakar had not been dissolved, saying this was a violation of the court order.
He, therefore, called on the parties speculating social media report in a bid to damage the image of his former member to desist from such action and allow the court to pronounce the dissolution of the marriage.
