Kano Governor’s Wife Seeks Divorce, Offers Dowry Refund

Zainab Musa Kwankwaso, the second spouse of Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, has filed for divorce at an Abuja court docket, providing to refund the dowry paid by the governor to finish their 20-year marriage.

Zainab, a daughter of former Kano State Governor and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, approached the Upper Area Court sitting in Gudu, Abuja, in search of dissolution of the wedding via khul’i, an Islamic process that enables a girl to hunt separation from her husband, often in alternate for compensation or the return of her dowry.

A civil summons obtained by DAILY NIGERIAN, with reference quantity CV/97/26, directed Yusuf to seem earlier than the court docket on November 17, 2026.

The couple bought married on July 29, 2006, when Zainab was serving as an aide to her father. The marriage produced six youngsters.

In her particulars of declare, Zainab cited an irretrievable breakdown of the wedding, alleging that their relationship had been characterised by a persistent absence of reciprocal care, love, affection and emotional connection.

She informed the court docket that she had additionally misplaced her love and affection for the governor and developed a deep-seated aversion to the wedding.

She additional expressed worry that remaining within the union would make it tough for her to look at the boundaries prescribed by Allah concerning a spouse’s obligations.

According to the court docket paperwork, Zainab stated makes an attempt to reconcile the couple and restore concord had failed, including that the governor’s coronary heart had utterly turned away from the wedding.

She consequently provided to refund the dowry Yusuf paid on their marriage ceremony day as a part of her request for the dissolution of the union.

The divorce transfer comes amid stories of a chronic marital disaster between the couple, towards the backdrop of the political fallout between Yusuf and his former political godfather and father-in-law, Kwankwaso.

The governor and the previous senator reportedly fell out a few yr in the past, with sources suggesting that the political disagreement might have additional strained the wedding.

On October 28, Zainab reportedly left the Kano Government House for her father’s residence on Miller Road, Kano, earlier than travelling to Abuja with out her police orderly and different safety escorts.

Her police orderly reportedly turned suspicious of her departure and alerted superiors on the Government House, who subsequently knowledgeable the governor.

Sources stated airport safety officers had been initially instructed to not permit her to board the flight. However, they later permitted her to journey after issues that stopping her may set off a scene on the airport.

The incident reportedly led to the arrest and questioning of safety operatives assigned to protect her quarters on the Government House, in addition to personnel connected to Kwankwaso’s Miller Road residence. They had been later launched by the Kano State Police Command.

Zainab’s elder sister and elder brother, Ado Kwankwaso, had been additionally reportedly invited by the police over allegations that they assisted her in leaving Kano.

Sources additional alleged that strain was being mounted on the police to cost Ado with kidnapping.

The court docket proceedings now place the couple’s marital disaster earlier than a judicial authority, with the governor anticipated to seem on November 17.