Sherif vs Atiku: Custody hearing adjourned to September 16

Hearing in the case instituted by Maryam Sherif, divorced wife of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, for custody of their children, has been adjourned to September 16, 2020.

Abubakar is the son of Nigeria’s former Vice President of the same name.

Sherif, had instituted a case against Abubakar, at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Gudu, Abuja, with number CV/41/2019 which was later transferred to the Sharia Court of Appeal, Kubwa, with number CV/16/20202 seeking the court to grant her custody of their three sons.

When the matter resumed on Tuesday, counsel to the defendant, Abdullahi Hassan, urged that the matter be held in chambers so the interest of the children be protected.

He said according to the directive of the court on the previous sitting that they children be brought to the court, they had complied accordingly.

The plaintiff’s lawyer, Nasir Saidu, said he did not object to the matter being held in chambers but it should not be kept away from the press.

Hassan said they did not mind press coverage so long as the interest of the children are protected.

The judge granted the defendant’s prayer that the matter be heard in chambers with press allowed, but urged that the interest of the children be protected.

Both parents were in court.

When the matter continued in chambers, Hassan then prayed the court to adjourn the matter for two weeks to enable them present their last witness.

According to him, the said witness was outside the country in Dubai at the moment.

Saidu objected to the prayer, saying it was a ploy by the defendant to strategy to delay the matter. He urged that the witness be produced the following day and hearing to continue via video call if necessary, else the defence be foreclosed.