A 23-year-old Nigerian divorcee has returned her bride price through a bank transfer. She took the step after her ex-husband refused to accept it from her family.
Ugwu Tessy got married in 2020 when she was about 17 years old. The marriage produced three children before it eventually ended. However, Tessy says her ex-husband refused to collect the bride price when her kinsmen tried to return it.
According to Tessy, the situation made it difficult for her to move on traditionally. She explained that the marriage remained connected until the bride price was returned. Since she is now in a new relationship, she decided to find another way to settle the matter.
On September 9, 2026, Tessy shared a screenshot of the bank transfer on Facebook. She also revealed the message she included in the transfer narration. It read:
“I Ugwu Nnenna Theresa Ex-wife of Ejike Tobias Ugwuoke. Have Single-handedly returned the Bride Price he paid on my Head on 2/1/2020 which he Rejected to Collect From My Umunna & Parents & The laws. I Single-HANDEDLY Returned it Myself Today Being 9/9/2026.”
Her unusual approach quickly attracted reactions online. Some social media users said their families faced similar situations after their marriages ended. In some cases, their families also returned the bride price through bank transfers.
The development has sparked conversations about traditional marriage practices and divorce. For Tessy, the bank transfer appears to have been her way of finally closing that chapter.
