NBA Condemns Alleged Court Order Forcing TikTok Creators to Marry

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has strongly condemned an alleged order issued by a Magistrate Court in Kano State directing two popular TikTok content creators, Idris Mai Wushirya and Basira Yar Guda, to marry within 60 days.

Reports indicate that the directive followed a case against the duo over a viral video considered “indecent” by the Kano State Films and Video Censorship Board. The video, which featured affectionate moments between the two, was said to have violated public morality and religious codes applicable in the state.

Magistrate Halima Wali reportedly issued the marriage order after arraigning the pair on charges related to producing and distributing obscene content online.

Reacting to the development, NBA President Afam Osigwe described the alleged ruling as “a gross abuse of judicial power and a clear violation of the Nigerian Constitution.”

According to Osigwe, no court in Nigeria has the authority to compel individuals to marry, adding that such an order is unconstitutional and infringes on the fundamental rights of the persons involved.

“Marriage, by its nature, is a voluntary union between consenting adults. It cannot, under any circumstance, be imposed as punishment, moral correction, or a judicial remedy,” Osigwe said.

He further noted that the supposed order, if true, breaches several constitutional rights, including personal liberty, human dignity, and privacy as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“The courts must remain protectors of justice and human rights, not tools for enforcing social conformity or moral compulsion,” he stated.

The NBA president warned that such judicial overreach could erode public confidence in the legal system and called for an urgent review of the decision attributed to Magistrate Wali.

He also directed the NBA Citizens’ Liberties Committee and Women’s Forum to monitor the situation closely to ensure that the rule of law and constitutional safeguards are upheld.

The NBA reiterated its commitment to defending human rights and ensuring that no Nigerian is subjected to unlawful or degrading treatment under the guise of moral enforcement.