Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned a reported ruling by a Magistrate Court in Kano ordering two TikTok content creators, Ashiru Idris, popularly known as Mai Wushirya and Basira Yar Guda, to marry each other within 60 days.
According to reports, Magistrate Halima Wali issued the directive after the Kano State Films and Video Censorship Board alleged that the duo’s viral videos showing romantic gestures breached moral and religious norms in the state.
The magistrate reportedly instructed the Hisbah Board to oversee the marriage arrangements and warned that failure to comply would amount to contempt of court.
NBA president Afam Osigwe, in a statement on Tuesday, described the order as a violation of fundamental rights and a misunderstanding of the powers of a court under the Nigerian Constitution.
He said, “Marriage, by its very nature, is a voluntary union between consenting adults. It cannot be imposed as a form of punishment, moral correction, or judicial remedy. No court in Nigeria has the power to compel two citizens to marry. Any attempt to do so offends the Constitution, which guarantees the rights to personal liberty, dignity, and privacy.”
Mr Osigwe added, “The courts must remain the bastion of justice and protectors of constitutional rights, not instruments for enforcing social conformity or moral compulsion. The reported directive, if true, sets a dangerous precedent and must be reviewed immediately.”
The NBA called for an urgent review of the alleged order and urged judicial authorities to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
It also directed its Citizens’ Liberties Committee and Women’s Forum to monitor the case and ensure that the individuals involved are not subjected to any form of coercion.
In its statement, the NBA warned that coercing marriage through courts undermines public confidence in the judiciary and transforms courts into tools for enforcing conformity rather than protecting rights.
The case is part of wider actions by Kano authorities against social media creators accused of posting content deemed objectionable.
The Kano censorship board had earlier charged the duo with producing and distributing content that it labeled obscene or sexually suggestive.
