Emir Sanusi Urges Marriage Law Reforms after Study Reveals Maintenance Cases Dominate Kano Courts

Former Emir of Kano Muhammad Sanusi II has called for reforms to marriage laws after research showed that maintenance claims dominate court cases in Kano. Presenting findings from his studies at the University of London, Sanusi said divorce maintenance suits account for the majority of cases brought before Kano’s courts.

Comparing Nigeria’s Islamic family law to Morocco’s reformed Moudawana, Sanusi argued that outdated practices are causing hardship for women and children. He examined about 12,000 cases handled by Kano’s courts and the Hisbah over the past five years and found that 41 percent were maintenance claims linked to poverty, alongside cases involving abuse and domestic responsibilities.

The former emir said poverty was the main reason men failed to provide for their families; he emphasised that Islamic jurisprudence obliges men to support their wives when they cannot earn a living. Sanusi called on lawmakers to adopt progressive reforms and provide education and economic opportunities to help families meet their responsibilities.