09/08/2026
Assuming this is a Nigerian-law case study, spending ₦10 million preparing for a wedding that never happened does not automatically mean she can recover ₦10 million from the man. The legal route depends heavily on why the wedding failed and what was actually promised.
1. Breach of promise to marry
Nigeria recognises claims based on a breach of a promise to marry. The Supreme Court has considered such a claim in Mabamije v Otto, where the plaintiff sought ₦20 million for an alleged refusal to honour a promise to marry.
But the claimant must establish the relevant promise and its breach. The court will not simply award every amount the claimant says she spent preparing for the wedding.
2. Can she recover the ₦10 million?
Potentially, some of it, but she would need to prove that the expenditure was actually incurred and that the loss is legally recoverable.
This is particularly important for expenses such as:
* venue deposits;
* catering payments;
* wedding clothing;
* invitations and printing;
* photography/video deposits;
* decoration payments;
* accommodation or transportation arranged specifically for the wedding.
Contract damages generally focus on losses that were within the reasonable contemplation of the parties and are not speculative.
So, for example, a non-refundable ₦2 million venue deposit, supported by receipts and directly connected to the cancelled wedding, is much easier to argue as an actual financial loss than ₦2 million claimed for the emotional disappointment of having purchased clothes.
3. Proof is critical
She should preserve receipts, bank transfers, invoices, contracts with vendors, WhatsApp messages, emails and evidence of payments.
Nigerian courts require claims for specific financial losses to be properly proved; merely stating a figure is generally insufficient. The Supreme Court has repeatedly stressed the importance of strict proof where special damages are claimed.
4. What if he deliberately induced her to spend the money?
That could make the case considerably stronger, depending on the evidence.
For example, the facts would be materially different if he:
proposed marriage, participated in fixing the wedding date, instructed her to make particular expenditures, assured her repeatedly that the wedding would proceed, and then deliberately abandoned the arrangement after she incurred substantial non-refundable expenses.
That is much stronger than a situation where the couple merely discussed marriage and she independently spent money on preparations.
Bottom line
“She spent ₦10 million” is not itself a ₦10 million cause of action. She would need to establish the legally actionable promise/breach and then prove which losses flowed from it and are recoverable.
And there is an important distinction between money she actually lost and money she merely spent on things she still possesses—for example, a wedding dress that she can retain or resell.
Stay informed and know your rights
