A businessman, Mamuda Duma, has been ordered to be remanded in prison custody by a Chief Magistrate Court in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, for allegedly engaging in an affair with a married woman, getting her pregnant, and forcing her to terminate the pregnancy.
The case was brought to the court by Ahmadu Lawal, the woman’s husband, who accused the defendant of ongoing illicit conduct with his wife despite several warnings and previous attempts to settle the matter out of court.
The matter was heard at Chief Magistrate Court I, with Chief Magistrate Muhammed Njidda presiding. The defendant, Duma, who resides in Wurojabbe, Yola North Local Government Area, denied all allegations leveled against him when they were read out in court.
According to the complainant, Ahmadu Lawal, who hails from Yola town in Yola South LGA, he first discovered the alleged affair between his wife and Duma in 2024. Upon learning of the relationship, he said he made several efforts to stop it by reaching out directly to the defendant.
“I called him three different times and warned him to stay away from my wife,” Lawal told the court. “But he ignored me and continued the relationship.”
Lawal further claimed that not only did the defendant continue the relationship, but also impregnated his wife. He alleged that Duma then made her abort the pregnancy, which was already three months old at the time.
Following this, Lawal reported the matter to the Police Headquarters in Yola. However, in an attempt to avoid legal action, the defendant, along with some of his friends, allegedly pleaded with Lawal to drop the case, promising that Duma would cut all ties with his wife.
“I agreed to withdraw the case because they came to me in peace. I trusted that he would stop. But instead of ending things, he continued seeing my wife behind my back,” Lawal said.
The incident, which has sparked discussions across Yola, touches on sensitive issues of marriage, trust, and justice. While adultery is not a criminal offence under Nigerian federal law, in many parts of the country, particularly in the North, such acts are taken seriously due to cultural and religious values.
In some Northern states, adultery and related moral offenses can carry legal implications under Sharia law, which operates alongside the general legal system in places like Adamawa, Kano, and Zamfara. While this case is being handled in a secular magistrate court, its social and cultural weight is significant.
During the court session, the defendant strongly denied the accusations. He did not offer detailed testimony at this stage, as the hearing was mainly for arraignment and to determine whether bail would be granted.
Chief Magistrate Muhammed Njidda, after listening to both parties, ruled that the matter was serious enough to warrant further investigation and trial. He therefore ordered that Duma be remanded in prison custody pending the commencement of the trial.
The court has adjourned the case to September 1, 2025, for proper hearing and presentation of evidence.
The legal remand means that the defendant will stay in prison until the next court date unless a separate bail application is filed and granted before then.
While this is not the first case of alleged extramarital affairs ending up in court, the elements of pregnancy and abortion have made the case particularly controversial.
In Nigeria, abortion is illegal except in cases where the life of the mother is at risk. If the accusation of a forced abortion is proven in court, it could lead to further legal complications for the accused, including possible charges beyond adultery.
Legal experts say that unless the state decides to pursue additional criminal charges based on medical evidence, the case will primarily revolve around moral wrongdoing, breach of trust, and potential civil claims.
Residents in Yola have expressed mixed reactions to the matter, with some blaming the defendant for disrespecting the sanctity of marriage, while others believe the case should have been resolved privately, rather than through the courts.
“This is the kind of thing that breaks homes and breeds bitterness,” said a resident who identified himself as Ibrahim Musa. “But the law is there to guide us. If the man (Duma) truly did what he’s being accused of, he should face the consequences.”
