Published June 9, 2023
– Adegbite Temitope Esq.
Apart from the news that sparked global attention that Christian Ronaldo is now a signee under a Saudi
Arabian football team and that Messi is unarguably the greatest football player, after his country’s team
defeated France in the just concluded World Cup, the news of the divorce settlement between Achraf
Hakimi, a 24-year-old Paris Saint German football player and his wife Hiba Abouk has topped the charts
for being the most likely talked about celebrity sports news with his marriage ending within three years
and the mode of his divorce settlement .
The marriage between the couple was believed to have hit rock bottom when it was revealed to the
world that Hakimi was accused of raping a 24-year-old woman in his Boulogne home on the 25th of
February when his wife and children were on holiday. Although his lawyer, Fanny Colin, denied the
allegation, the court continued with the proceedings. Replying to Le Parisien, a French scandal sheet,
Colin was said to have given the following remarks: “The accusations are false. He is calm and is making
himself available to the authorities”.
However, prior to speculated news, Hakimi and his wife have been estranged for some time and have
been working towards separating legally before the reported rape case. By March 2023, Abouk labelled
her marriage to Hakimi ‘a failed project’, while revealing that the reason behind her desire to divorce
the Morocco international player is because their marriage was practically done. She was said to have
envisaged a different martial conjugation than what she was/ has been realistically slapped with.
Loosely borrowing words from her in an interview with El Cierre Digital, Hiba had said her decision to get
married to Hakimi was her desire to have a home life, in concert with her husband and children but
found out that Hakimi relished the life of a sybarite, partying and living the reckless life of a bachelor.
She also did express her stance on the rape allegation by saying that she will forever be on the side of
the victim.
Hiba vehemently spoke about the consideration that she has furnished towards the formation of their
marriage thus her request for 50% of her estranged husband’s possession. Hakimi’s net worth is $24
million. Hakimi’s monthly earning from PSG is said to be $1 million, sharing this high worth with Lionel
Messi and Neymar da Silva Santos Jnr. Should Hida Abouk be successful in her claim, a whooping sum of
$8.4 million dollars might have been awarded to her.
However, things turned for the worse as it was revealed that 80% of Hakimi’s net worth was in
possession of his mother indicating that Hakimi barely had anything to his name. This revelation through
the help of social media is what has ignited different views and opinions all around the world.
However, some hot takes which have been upturned and rebutted are:
Questions on malicious intention by Hakimi has been rebutted on the ground that his mother has been
in possession of his legal estate since the beginning of his football career.
Also, questions as to the consideration of Hida’s contributions to make her want 50% of his possession
has also been rebutted as their marriage only lasted for three years which makes it somewhat
overreaching for her to request for half of his possessions since it can be proven that he has been a
multi-millionaire long before meeting her.
The legal understanding of this case is said that the court has a duty of care in ensuring that aggrieved
parties are listened to and facts must be adequately presented to award each party their share on the subject matter. This will also serve as a lesson to the general public that the court is not a place of
charity or sentiments but a place of facts and justice.
Conclusively, this writer believes that before embarking on a journey such as the institution called
“marriage”, particularly in Nigeria where women are still seen as chattels and disenfranchised from
bringing an action against their spouse, talk less of being settled monetary when the marriage has been
dissolved. It is imperative to be legally advised on the pros and cons and rights of an individual in a
marriage setting, to know the steps to take in a situation where there seems to be an instance of unfair
bargain that might lead to dissolution of marriage.
Needless to say, that this is an awareness to seek legal advice at all times as regards to individuals’ right
in marriages. As there are various issues that can be resolved through adjudication, reconciliation
sessions and the likes that can help in strengthening or peacefully organizing steps in marriage
dissolution rather than having raging partners kill or destroy one another.
This has also been an eye opener to eradicate barbaric laws against women, who are largely unfavored
in cases of divorce here in Nigeria.