The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has reacted strongly to a viral report alleging that a Magistrate Court in Kano ordered two popular TikTok content creators, Idris Mai Wushirya and Basira Yar Guda, to marry within 60 days as part of a court ruling following their alleged involvement in an indecent video scandal.
The story, which has generated widespread outrage and debate across social media platforms, suggested that the court issued the directive as part of a moral corrective measure against the duo. However, the NBA has condemned the alleged ruling as both “unconstitutional” and a “misuse of judicial authority.”
NBA Condemns Alleged Marriage Order
In a statement released by its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), the NBA made it clear that no court in Nigeria possesses the legal or constitutional power to compel marriage between any two individuals. The association emphasized that marriage is a voluntary and consensual union that cannot be imposed as a form of judicial punishment or moral reformation.
“The Nigerian Constitution recognizes marriage as a private contract between two consenting adults. Any attempt by a court or any institution of state to force such a union is a direct violation of personal liberty, human dignity, and the right to privacy guaranteed under Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution (as amended),” the NBA said.
Violation of Constitutional Rights
The NBA further described the alleged ruling as a “grave misunderstanding of judicial authority” and an “affront to the rule of law.” It maintained that courts exist to interpret and apply the law—not to enforce cultural, social, or moral expectations that undermine constitutional freedoms.”
According to the statement, the NBA stressed that judicial officers must always act within the scope of their lawful powers, warning that any form of judicial overreach not only endangers human rights but also erodes public confidence in the judiciary as an impartial institution.
Call for Investigation and Review
The NBA called for an immediate review of the alleged decision by Magistrate Halima Wali and urged the Kano State Judicial Service Commission to investigate the matter thoroughly. It also tasked the NBA’s Citizens’ Liberties Committee and the Women’s Forum to monitor developments in the case and provide legal assistance if necessary.
“Courts are the last hope of the common man. They must remain the protectors of justice, not enforcers of cultural or religious conformity,” the association stated.
Reaffirming the Rule of Law
[/p]The NBA concluded by reaffirming its commitment to upholding the rule of law and protecting the rights of all citizens, especially women and young people who may be vulnerable to abuse of power or moral policing.
“No person—whether male or female—should ever be coerced, directly or indirectly, into marriage by any court, agency, or authority. Such actions are unconstitutional and must be firmly resisted,” the statement concluded.
