I Can Only Afford N5,000 Feeding Allowance for My 2 Children, Man Tells Court

By Christiana Nicholas

A Civil Servant, Hassan Isah, on Tuesday told an Upper Area Court in Mararaba, Abuja that he can only afford N5,000 monthly feeding allowance for his two children.

Isah, who resides in Angwan Albarka, Mama Dele Junction, Mararaba, Karu LGA, made this known after the Judge, Malam Mohammed Yakubu, told him N5,000 was not enough to feed his children monthly.

“It is My Lord. I can only afford N10,000. I have other responsibilities. I have a child out of wedlock.

“I also take care of my mother as well as my siblings’ school fees.

“She can leave the children for me; my twin brother will take care of them when I go to work.

“I also have so much debt that I am paying,” Isah said.

Earlier, Jamila Rabiu, his wife, had requested for a maintenance fee of N100,000 monthly, an order mandating the respondent to shoulder the children’s school expenses and medical care.

The judge, however, ordered Isah to pay monthly feeding upkeep of N20,000 for the two children.

The amount, the judge said, is separate from medical bills, school fees or clothing.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that earlier on Feb. 11, 2026, Rabiu had filed a petition seeking the dissolution of her marriage under Khul’i, seeking custody of her two children.

The petitioner filed the report against Isah, under the Islamic Law Practice and Procedure.

The petitioner, who resides at Angwan Albarka, Mama Dele Junction, Mararaba, Karu LGA, said she got married to the respondent under Islamic Law on April 8, 2017.

She alleged that she had suffered domestic violence in the hands of her husband.

“My husband also engages in unreligious things. I can’t remain in a marriage where my husband is not complying by Islamic obligations.

”I no longer have any love for him,” she told the court.

She said continuing to live with the respondent would force her to go against the teachings of her religion.

She said that she was ready to refund the N40,000 dowry paid on her head to free herself from the marriage under the principle of Khul’i.

She had then prayed the court for the dissolution of the marriage under Khul’i in accordance with Islamic Law, Practice and Procedure, and to get custody of her children.

NAN reports that she was granted divorce in accordance with Islamic Law on April 28, 2026.

(NAN)