20-year-old woman sues her father for forced marriage

According to bbc.com report, Fatima Aliyu’s lawyer told a Sharia (Islamic) court in Kaduna state was not suing out of disrespect but based on the fact that she already has someone she loves.

According to a BBC.com report, the father explained that “his late parents had chosen the groom for his daughter when they were alive and he wanted to respect their wishes.”

The report added that Judge Malam Aiyeku Abdulrahman ruled that while the father has the right to choose a husband for his daughter, forced marriage was not encouraged while he urged him to have patience with his daughter

“Allow her to present the person she wants to marry and if you are pleased with his religion and character, you allow her to get married,” the Punch quoted the judge as saying.