The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has strongly criticized a reported ruling by a Kano Magistrate’s Court that allegedly ordered two popular TikTok content creators, Idris Mai Wushirya and Basira Yar Guda, to marry within 60 days. The order reportedly followed their appearance in viral videos considered “indecent” by the Kano State Films and Video Censorship Board.

The clips, which showed the duo engaging in affectionate gestures, were said to have violated moral and religious standards upheld in the state. However, the NBA has condemned the alleged order, describing it as unconstitutional and a violation of the fundamental rights of the individuals involved.

In a statement signed by NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, the association said the court’s action demonstrated a “serious misunderstanding of the limits of judicial authority under the Nigerian Constitution.” Osigwe stated that marriage must remain a voluntary act between consenting adults, not a punishment or a form of moral correction.

According to the NBA, no court in Nigeria has the legal power to compel marriage, as doing so infringes on citizens’ rights to liberty, dignity, and privacy protected by the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The association called on judicial authorities to urgently review the reported ruling and ensure that similar incidents do not occur in the future.

To ensure accountability, the NBA directed its Citizens’ Liberties Committee and Women’s Forum to monitor the case. The association stressed that the judiciary must serve as a defender of justice and human rights, not as a tool for enforcing social or moral conformity.