Nasarawa Court Hears Estranged Wife's Case Against Ex-Husband Over Rented Apartment

A woman identified as Jamila Murtala has initiated legal proceedings against her former spouse, Saminu, at the Mararaba Upper Area Court in Nasarawa State. She is accusing him of moving his new partner into an apartment she had rented and paid for, effectively denying her access.

Murtala recounted to the court that her marriage to Saminu was initially harmonious until their eventual separation and divorce. According to her testimony before the court, Saminu then "refused me access to the apartment, my belongings and other privileges."

She further explained the sequence of events, stating, "Immediately the court dissolved our marriage, I locked my apartment and travelled to inform my uncle about it." Upon her return, Jamila made a startling discovery. "However, when I returned home, to my greatest surprise, I discovered that he had changed the locks and moved his second wife in."

Jamila informed the court that she had paid N12,000 for the apartment back in 2020. She also revealed that Saminu had promised to reimburse her for the payment, but he never did. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Jamila's plea to the court includes an order for Saminu to repay the sum of N12,000 she expended on the accommodation.

Her specific request to the court was, "I pray the court for an order for a refund of the money I paid for the apartment and the unconditional release of my belongings." Responding to the accusations, Saminu, the defendant, refuted all claims made against him. Following the submissions, Justice Mohammed Jibril postponed the hearing to a later date for a final decision.