My Husband Kidnapped Our Son For N51m Ransom –Wife

An estranged housewife, Mrs. Titi Jamil, has accused her, husband, Ahmed
Jamil, of kidnapping their son and collecting N51 million as ransom.

Titi, who appeared before an Ikeja Customary court, on Monday, pleaded
for the dissolution of her marriage on the grounds that it lacked love and
that her husband, whom she allegedly paid N1 million monthly salary, was
only after her money.

She maintained that her husband sold their house in London for N68
million without giving her or either of their two children part of the
money.

Narrating that she met her husband in London, Titi told the court that
the couple had a traditional marriage and that her husband, who was
absent in court, converted her from Islam to Christianity.

Describing her husband as prayerful and caring in the early period of the
marriage, Titi said Ahmad later turned vicious, beating her during
pregnancy even as he stopped praying.

She said, "The only reason why he married me was because of my
father's money. He was God-fearing when I met him. We never missed
devotional hours. But after our marriage, he showed his true colour as he
stopped praying and began to beat me even during pregnancy.

"Ahmad kidnapped my son and asked for a ransom of 210,000 pounds
after I left his house with my children.

My elder sister paid the money
into his mother's account in London and he released my son to me after
his mother confirmed to him that the money had been paid.

The bailiff told the court that all efforts to reach Ahmad proved
abortive, saying his ferocious dogs scared visitors to his residence.

Court president, Mr. Ayo Ipaye, noted that the respondent has not
showed up in court since the case began.

Ipaye said that since the petitioner has given evidence before the court
and the respondent has refused to show up – "it is only right to give
judgment."

He ordered the dissolution of the marriage and granted custody of the
children to their mother.