Adamawa Woman Cries out, Seeks Enforcement of Judgement on Custody of Children

A woman known as Zhihwi Mercy Tizhe in Adamawa State has sought for an enforcement of judgement delivered by the Upper Area Court I on the custody of her children.

Mrs. Zhihwi who works with the Partnership for Learning for All in Nigerian Education (PLANE) funded by the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office, decried delay in the enforcement of the judgement which granted her custody of her daughters.

Addressing newsmen in Yola, Adamawa state, Mrs Zhihwi, narrated that she was married to Prof. Caleb Fili of the Department of Food Science snd Technology MAU, Yola, and had catalogue of issues as a result of which the union was dissolved over 12 years ago.

She said that after a failed reconciliatory meetings and complete denial of access to her 4 children by her ex-husband, she filed a civil case before Upper Area Court I sitting in Yola, Adamawa state.

She said that the former judge of the court who is currently the Chief Registrar, Buba Abubakar, delivered judgement in her favour on the 15th January, 2024, and granted 4 out of 5 prayers as contained in the case.

She told newsmen that the court granted her the custody of her daughters and that at the time of judgement some of the girls had reached the age of consent.

She disclosed that the court had ordered that the 3rd and the 4th girls be released to her, while the 1st and 2nd girls should choose whether to live with her or their father.

She said that from that time, she came to the court for 8th times from Abuja to see how the judgement can be enforced after she had applied for it but to no avail, alleging that the presiding judge, Hon. Shehu Mustapha, systematically and deliberately refused to enforce it in spite of the application.

She revealed that she had wrote to several authorities which include the Chief Judge of Adamawa State, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, National Human Rights Commission, and the Attorney-General of the Federation among others and copied all to relevant bodies but nothing has been done about.

She explained that the Adamawa State Ministry of Justice called and gave her a Memorandum of Understanding dated 28th October, 2025 to sign, saying that the MoU is asking her to set aside the judgement of the court and allow the children to choose where to stay.

She pointed out that the MoU does not supercede the judgement of the court and that she is not a party to it, stating that she does not know if the legal system in Adamawa is different from that of others in Nigeria.

She alleged that her former husband has left the children under the custody of his sister thereby denying them parental care and love, saying that her children and she has no access to them for over 12 years ago.

She observed with concern how the matter turned a new dimension when she visited the court 3 days ago, saying that the judge told her that it is not what she wants that will be given to her.

Mrs. Zhihwi alleged that the judge ordered for her detention, seizure of her phones when she was trying to make clarification on his verbal order instead enforcing court's verdict and described the action as unfortunate.

She appealed for the intervention of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and the National Human Rights Commission, and civil society organisations to wade into the matter and ensure justice is done.

When contacted for his comment on the matter, Prof. Caleb Fili said he is constrained to speak on the matter as the case is still in court.