Tears and Tension in Court as Woman Faints After Husband Demands Divorce

In a dramatic moment at an Area Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Thursday, October 16, 2025, Mulikat Yusuf collapsed after her husband, Ishaq Abdulganiyu, insisted on divorcing her despite her emotional pleas for reconciliation.

The hearing, which drew attention from other litigants, was halted after the emotional outburst turned chaotic.

Witnesses said the presiding judge had asked both parties whether there was any possibility of saving the marriage.

Mulikat, sobbing uncontrollably, pleaded with her husband to reconsider, but Ishaq maintained his decision, declaring before the court, “My decision is final, Your Honour. I’m done with the marriage.”

Moments later, the heartbroken woman slumped to the floor, causing confusion in the courtroom as people rushed to her aid.

Court officials and sympathizers quickly assisted her, while proceedings were suspended.

A witness, identified simply as Mrs. Rahmat, who spoke with Global Mirror News outside the court, described the scene as heartbreaking.

“Everyone felt sorry for her. She kept crying and begging her husband not to leave. But when he said he was done, she just fell. The judge had to stop the session immediately,” she said.

Mulikat was later revived and taken home by relatives for medical attention. Sources said the couple had been married for several years and have children together, though their union had reportedly been troubled by financial issues and mutual distrust.

The presiding judge adjourned the case to a later date, advising the parties to use the break to recover emotionally and possibly seek reconciliation outside court.

Background: Rising Divorce Cases in Ilorin and Across Kwara State

Divorce and marital disputes have continued to rise in Kwara and other parts of Kwara State in recent years, according to social researchers and legal observers.

A 2022 social survey among Ilorin residents showed that about 7.6 percent of respondents identified as divorced or separated — a figure higher than a decade ago.

Historical records also reveal a worrying trend: in 1985, one Ilorin court recorded 215 divorce petitions, with 200 granted.

By 1986, the number had risen to 700, with 501 divorces approved. In 1989, 616 cases were filed, out of which 335 were granted.

Experts attribute this steady increase to multiple factors, economic hardship, unemployment, social pressure, infidelity, and the breakdown of traditional conflict-resolution systems.

Urban centres such as Ilorin West and Offa are said to record higher divorce rates than rural Areas, as city life exposes couples to greater financial and emotional stress.

Legal Practitioners in Kwara have also linked the rise in divorce petitions to the economic downturn.

One Ilorin-based lawyer noted that “many homes are collapsing under financial stress — men can’t meet obligations, and women are becoming more assertive about their choices.”

While the court continues to promote reconciliation in family disputes, the rising numbers suggest that more couples are finding it difficult to sustain their unions in the face of modern-day pressures.

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