By Ghazali Ibrahim
Zainab Musa Kwankwaso, daughter of former Kano State Governor and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has offered to refund the dowry paid by Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf as she seeks to end their 20-year marriage.
Zainab, who is the governor’s second wife, reportedly filed for divorce through the Islamic procedure known as khul’i at the Upper Area Court sitting in Gudu, Abuja.
Court documents obtained by Daily Nigerian indicate that the suit, marked CV/97/26, has prompted the court to issue a civil summons directing Governor Yusuf to appear on November 17, 2026.
The couple got married on July 29, 2006, when Zainab was serving as an aide to her father. Their marriage produced six children.
In her court filing, Zainab cited a breakdown of the marriage, alleging a prolonged absence of mutual care, love, affection and emotional connection.
She reportedly told the court that she had lost her love and affection for the governor and developed a deep-seated aversion to the marriage.
She also expressed concern that remaining in the relationship could make it difficult for her to observe the limits prescribed by Islamic law regarding a wife’s obligations.
According to the court documents, Zainab said efforts to reconcile the couple and restore harmony had failed.
She subsequently offered to refund the dowry paid by the governor during their wedding to secure the dissolution of the marriage.
The development comes amid a reported political disagreement between Governor Yusuf and his father-in-law, Kwankwaso, following the governor’s defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), under which he was elected, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The political fallout has reportedly coincided with tensions in the governor’s marriage, although Zainab’s stated reasons for seeking divorce are contained in her court filing.
Khul’i is an Islamic form of divorce initiated by a wife, which commonly involves returning the dowry or providing agreed compensation to the husband.
Governor Yusuf is expected to appear before the court on November 17 as the proceedings begin.
