Governor Abba Kabir ‘s Wife Zainab Kwankwaso, Files for Divorce in Abuja Court

By Our Correspondent

Hajia Zainab Musa Kwankwaso, the second wife of Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, has filed for divorce before the Upper Area Court sitting in Gudu, Abuja

According to court documents obtained by this newspaper, a civil summons with reference number CV/97/26 has directed the governor to appear before the court on November 17, 2026, in connection with the divorce proceedings.

Hotpen reports that, Zainab, a daughter of Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, married Yusuf on July 29, 2006, while serving as an aide to her father. The marriage produced six children.

Although Yusuf fell out with his political godfather and father-in-law about a year ago, the fallout now appears to have extended to his marriage, which sources say has been experiencing a prolonged crisis.

On October 28, the governor’s estranged wife reportedly left the Kano Government House for her father’s residence at Miller Road, Kano, before boarding a flight to Abuja without her police orderly and other security escorts.

Her police orderly, suspecting that something was amiss, reportedly alerted her superiors at the Government House, who subsequently informed the governor.

Sources said airport security officials were initially instructed not to allow her to board the flight. However, they eventually allowed her to proceed after concerns that stopping her could trigger a scene at the airport.

It was gathered that security operatives assigned to guard her quarters at the Government House, as well as personnel attached to Mr Kwankwaso’s Miller Road residence, were arrested, questioned and later released by the Kano State Police Command.

Zainab’s elder sister and elder brother, Ado Kwankwaso, were also reportedly invited by the police over allegations that they assisted her in leaving Kano.

Sources further alleged that pressure was being mounted on the police to charge Ado with kidnapping.

In her particulars of claim filed before the court, Zainab cited a breakdown of the marriage, saying it had been characterised by a persistent lack of reciprocal care, love, affection and emotional connection.

She told the court that she had also lost her love and affection for the governor and developed a deep-seated aversion to the marriage.

She further expressed fears that continuing the marriage would make it difficult for her to observe the limits prescribed by Allah regarding a wife’s obligations.

According to the court documents, Zainab said all efforts to reconcile the couple and restore harmony had failed, adding that the governor’s heart had completely turned away from the union.

She consequently informed the court of her willingness to refund the dowry paid by the governor on their wedding day to secure the dissolution of the marriage.

Zainab is seeking the dissolution of the marriage through khul’i, an Islamic procedure under which a wife may seek separation from her husband, usually in return for compensation or the refund of the dowry.

Meanwhile, the Kano State Commissioner for Information, Sanusi Dawakin Tofa, did not respond to calls and a text message seeking the governor’s reaction to the matter.

#DAILY NIGERIAN