By Juliana Katung
Kaduna (Nigeria)–The Sharia Court of Appeal in Kaduna northwest of the country on Monday ordered Lt.-Col Abdullahi Babatunde to produce his three children allegedly abducted to the Court on December 5th.
The Grahd Khadi, Shehu Ahmed who gave the order warned that the court would not take it lightly if the Army officer who is the appellant in the case fails to bring the children to the Court on the said date.
The Khadi advised the mother not to feel bad with what ever happened. “You are both parents to the children and would follow due process to ensure justice .”
Counsel to the respondent, Mohammed Sanusi said the custody of three children had been given to the mother Mrs Hidayat Oyetunde by Upper Sharia Court kawo on July 25th 2017 with an order that the appellant shall pay the sum of N1000.000 monthly as maintenance fee for his three children.
The counsel said the Appellant on 22th Nov. used police and army to forcefully take away the children to an unknown destination..
But counsel to the appellant, Abubakar Ibrahim denied the claims and told the court that the children were not forcefully taken but rather was for a good cause.
He said that the trial court did not ascertain the actual income of the appellant before arriving at its decision by given N100.000.00 as maintenance fees.
That the maintenance fees, he argued, was so outrageous to the extent that he can not afford to comply with the court order saying ” it is a burden he can not bear “
The Counsel to the appellent told the court that he would inform the farther about the court orders and that the said children would be produced at the Court.
The Ex-wife of Lt Col Hadiyat Oyatunde said they were married for about 14years and blessed with three children and got divorced over a year in which he took her to upper Sharia court kawo and the court granted her the custody of the children who were later taken away.
She said her Ex-husband Abdullahi Babatunde is a Lt.Col serving in Maiduguri and had never cared to come and see the children or spend a dime on them.
Babatunde who was not satisfied with the decision of the Upper Sharia Court Kawo decided to appeal to Sharia court of Appeal.
