NBA Condemns Kano Court Order Compelling TikTokers to Marry
Bar Association Says Marriage Cannot Be Used as Punishment or Moral Correction
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned the reported decision of a Magistrate Court in Kano allegedly ordering two popular TikTok content creators, Idris Mai Wushirya and Basira Yar Guda, to formalize their relationship through marriage within 60 days.
The association described the order as a flagrant violation of the Nigerian Constitution and a misinterpretation of judicial powers, stressing that no court in Nigeria has the authority to compel any two individuals to marry.
In a statement issued by Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, President of the NBA, the association said the alleged ruling by Magistrate Halima Wali represents “a grave misunderstanding of the limits of judicial authority” and “an affront to the fundamental rights of the individuals concerned.”
“No court has the power to compel any person to marry another person or two persons to mandatorily marry. It is indeed unconstitutional and therefore unlawful for any court to purport to have such power,” the statement read in part.
The NBA stressed that marriage is a voluntary union between consenting adults, and cannot — under any circumstances — be imposed as punishment, a tool of moral correction, or a form of judicial remedy.
According to the association, such an order violates constitutionally protected rights, including the right to personal liberty, dignity of the human person, and privacy, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The Bar Association warned that judicial overreach of this nature not only infringes on individual freedoms but also undermines public confidence in the judiciary.
“The courts must remain the bastion of justice and protectors of constitutional rights, not instruments for enforcing social conformity or moral compulsion,” Osigwe said.
The NBA called for an immediate review of the decision and urged judicial authorities to take steps to prevent a recurrence of similar unconstitutional orders.
It further disclosed that the NBA Citizens’ Liberties Committee and the Women’s Forum have been directed to monitor the situation to ensure that the rule of law prevails.
“No person should ever be coerced, directly or indirectly, into marriage by any institution of the state, including the courts,” the statement concluded.