A businessman named Nasiru Dayyabu has taken the father of his former fiancee, Mallam Sani Direba, to Shari'a Court II in Magajin Gari, Kaduna, demanding the refund of a N260,000 dowry, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
The complainant included Direba and two brothers in the suit, seeking the return of N250,000 as dowry and N10,000 as introduction money paid to marry his daughter.
Represented by his lawyer, Mr. Sani Sunusi, the complainant informed the court that he sent his family members from Karaye, Kano State, to Kaduna in 2025 to formally request the hand of the defendant's daughter in marriage.
"We paid the dowry and the introduction money (kudin gausuwa) and were waiting for them to set a date for the wedding," he said. "Unfortunately, the lady's father called to inform us that they have cancelled the marriage."
The lawyer stated that the complainant had been requesting a refund of his money since September 2025, but all efforts proved unsuccessful.
He claimed that his client had traveled from Kano to Kaduna three times regarding the issue and later filed a suit and hired a lawyer, a situation that negatively affected his client's finances.
Sunusi therefore prayed the court to compel the defendants to pay N250,000 as compensation for wasting Dayyabu's time.
On their part, the three defendants stated that they had brought the N260,000 dowry and introduction money and were ready to present it to the court.
Regarding the demand for N250,000 in costs, the first defendant claimed that it was Dayyabu who called off the marriage, not them.
The judge, Mallam Yakubu Abdullahi, asked the defendants if they had witnesses, and they confirmed they did.
He adjourned the case to June 17 for the defendants to present their witnesses.
