Katsina — Remember the story of Halisa and Aina'u who reportedly assaulted their father Malam Junaidu Tudun-Wada over N45, 000 loan? Well, the latest is that they have reconciled with their father and promised to be of good behavior. In fact they have already started doing domestic chores which they weren't doing before. For his part, Malam Junaidu tells Weekly Trust why he decided to forgive his daughters.

You were recently at the court accusing your daughters of assaulting you. Why did they assault you?

Malam Junaidu Tudun Wada: To be honest, I cannot say why because apart from the debt I owed them I don't have any problem with my daughters. But I suspect that they didn't act alone. They were most likely instigated by their mother to embarrass me. I have been having problem with their mother for a very long time. Recently, she started involving her children into our personal problem. Being their mother, she succeeded in poisoning their minds. They have taken the issue to the extreme to the extent that stopped greeting me even though we are living in the same house.

But your daughters told the court that they were only asking you to pay them their money after you disowned them.

It is true that Halisa and Aina'u gave me some money as loan which I have not been able to pay. But I don't think that was why they assaulted me. The loan issue is not new, and they never asked me about the money before this unfortunate incident. I am sure their mother was behind the whole issue. Halisa offered me N20, 000 while Aina'u gave me N25, 000. As I said earlier, that was not the basis of the whole embarrassment.

What exactly happened between you and your daughters on the fateful day they have beaten you up?

Well, I was in the toilet easing myself when suddenly Halisa and her sister Aina'u entered the toilet and dragged me out. Aina'u came in first, then Halisa followed. I was shocked when I saw them in the toilet because they knew I was inside. I was naked, but they didn't bother. They went ahead to drag me out of the toilet and in the process they wounded me on my lap. If not for the timely intervention of my son Muddaha, only God knows what would have happened after they dragged me out of the toilet. Their intention was to eject me from the house. The most unfortunate thing is that their mother was watching while I was struggling to free myself from their hold. She didn't utter even a word to make them stop. So after dragging me out, they also pulled me to the ground naked all in their effort to eject me from the house but Muddaha rescued me.

But your daughters told the court that you have disowned them?

No, no, I have never disowned my daughters. I only asked them to leave my house because they are disturbing me. How can I disown my biological daughters? They only said it to the court to in order to win the case but there has never been a time when I said they are not my daughters. They lied because when our case came up they also denied beating me but my son Muddaha, who stood as my witness testified against them after he swore by the holy Qur'an in the court. But when Aina'u was asked to take oath she refused and this is to tell you that they lied.

Additionally, during the trial I produced three witnesses, Mallam Muhammad Muhammad, Mai-Unguwa Junaidu Iliyasu and my son Muddaha. They all testified against my daughters before the court.

Why did you take your daughters to Shari'ah court?

I wanted the court to show that they were wrong and so that they can be guided. They have now realised their mistakes. Therefore the best option for me and for them as well is to forgive them. After all they are not my only children; I have other children that are taking care of me adequately. Their sister Halima is taking care of my meal; she cooks for me three times a day. I relied upon her for my breakfast, lunch and dinner. Though she is married she still brings my food from her matrimonial home on daily basis.

Despite the embarrassment I went through when Halisa and Aina'u dragged me from the toilet naked, I didn't intend to take my daughters to court. I changed my mind when they threatened to kill me. And even after that I had to exhaust all available means of resolving the matter amicably before I finally took the matter to court. I resolved to court for my safety because anything that involves life should not be taken lightly. No father would love to take a personal matter of this nature to court but when situation warrants you must do that to save your future.

Have you forgiven your daughters?

Yes, I have forgiven Halisa and Aina'u. If I don't forgive them they will suffer in life. And I don't want them to suffer for the consequences of their wrongdoings to me. I will not be comfortable to see my daughters suffering as a result of their disobedience to me. After all what is there in the whole life? I can die any moment and I don't want to die without forgiving them. I can understand their ignorance about the position of father to his children and that is why I forgive them. I am praying that God the Almighty will also forgive them all.

We have reconciled; they have been good to me since the intervention of the court. My house is peaceful now. Additionally, Halisa and Aina'u will soon relocate to another house rented for them by their brother.

Why are they relocating?

Their brother asked them to leave my house which to me is better. I plan to marry another wife since I have divorced their mother. It will be better with them not in the house.