By George Omagbemi Sylvester
A father of 11 children, Lawal Hamisu, has approached Shari’a Court II sitting at Magajin Gari, Kaduna State, seeking a court order compelling his 27-year-old daughter, Fatima Lawal, to get married, arguing that she has repeatedly failed to settle down despite attaining marriageable age.
Appearing before the court through his counsel, H.B. Debo, Hamisu told the court that Fatima had completed her Higher National Diploma (HND) and had entertained several admirers over the years but had not presented any of them as a serious suitor.
He urged the court to direct his daughter to choose a suitable husband and formalise the marriage.
According to the father, his relationship with his children has deteriorated, alleging that their mother had turned them against him. Through his lawyer, he told the court: “She should get a suitor, present him in court, and the court should marry her off since her mother has poisoned their minds against me.”
Responding to the application, Fatima Lawal informed the court that she currently has no serious suitor and that none of the men who had expressed interest in her had made a formal marriage proposal.
She maintained that she could not present a prospective husband because no one had officially sought her hand in marriage.
Presiding over the matter, Malam Yakubu Abdullahi described the dispute as a sensitive family issue involving a parent and his adult daughter.
The judge said he would hold separate discussions with both parties to better understand their positions before making a decision.
He subsequently adjourned the matter until August 3, 2026, for ruling.
The unusual case has generated widespread reactions across Nigeria, with legal practitioners and human rights advocates reiterating that, under Nigerian law, marriage is founded on the free and voluntary consent of both parties.
The proceedings have also reignited conversations about the balance between parental authority, religious traditions and the constitutional rights of adult children.
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