Zainab, Kwankwaso’s daughter, files for divorce from Gov Yusuf, offers to return dowry

Zainab Musa Kwankwaso, the second wife of Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, has filed for divorce at the Upper Area Court sitting in Gudu, Abuja, according to court documents obtained by DAILY NIGERIAN.

A civil summon, with reference number CV/97/26, ordered the governor to appear before the court on November 17, 2026.

Zainab, who is a daughter of Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, married Mr Yusuf on July 29, 2006 while serving her father as aide. The marriage produced six children.

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

On October 28, the governor’s estranged wife reportedly left Kano Government House for her father’s residence on 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 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.

DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that security operatives assigned to guard her quarters at 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 in 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 fear 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 them and restore harmony had failed, adding that the governor’s heart had completely turned away from the union.

She consequently told the court that she was willing 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.

The Kano State commissioner for Information, Sanusi Dawakin Tofa, did not respond to calls and a text message seeking the response of the governor to the matter. (Daily Nigerian)