Sharia Court Schedules October 28 Hearing in Child Custody Dispute Between Prince Ado Ibrahim and Ex-Wife

The Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Gudu, Abuja, has slated October 28, 2025, for a full hearing in the ongoing child custody case between Prince Abdulmalik Ado Ibrahim and his ex-wife, Adama Indimi.

Prince Abdulmalik, the son of the late Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Alhaji Ado Ibrahim, was married to Adama Indimi, daughter of renowned billionaire businessman Mohammed Indimi, on August 8, 2020. After four years, their marriage was legally dissolved on August 26, 2024, at the Upper Area Court, Gudu, where their divorce was formalized and certified. The couple shares one child from their union.

The custody battle centers on the application filed by Adama’s legal counsel, Mohammed Aliyu, who, citing Islamic personal law, sought full custody of their underage child. Under Islamic practice, custody typically remains with the mother, while the father bears financial responsibility for the upbringing. Adama’s legal team requested monthly maintenance to cover the child’s feeding, clothing, utilities, and a nanny’s salary amounting to $2,000 plus ₦100,000. Additionally, they sought payment of school fees and assistance with the child’s legal documentation.

Prince Abdulmalik’s lawyer, Darlington Onyekwere, did not contest the custody claim but proposed a monthly financial support adjustment, offering ₦1 million instead of the $2,000 monthly requested. He also committed to paying the school fees directly to the educational institution. The prince’s legal team subsequently sought to amend their counterclaim within the court process.

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A major contention arose when Adama’s lawyers accused the prince of frustrating the testimonies of their witnesses and pressed the court to compel his personal appearance and the submission of six months’ bank statements to prove financial capacity. The court agreed to this request, prompting Prince Abdulmalik to appeal on grounds of alleged bias by the presiding judge.

Despite the pending appeal, Adama’s legal team moved to have a bench warrant issued to enforce the prince’s attendance. The Lower Area Court in Kado adjourned this matter to October 27, 2025.

During the appellate hearing at the Sharia Court of Appeal, Mark Asu-Opi, counsel for the prince, requested additional time to respond to a counter-affidavit submitted by Adama’s legal team. The latter maintained that the filing was timely and proceeded with their application. Following detailed arguments from both sides, the three-member judicial panel, headed by Grand Khadi Ibrahim Rufai Imam, adjourned the matter until October 28, 2025, to conduct a full hearing of the applications presented.

This case highlights the intersection of Islamic family law and modern financial dispute resolution and underscores the ongoing legal negotiations surrounding child custody and maintenance obligations in high-profile Nigerian families.