Olaide Oyelude, Katsina
THE Katsina Emirate Council on Thursday declared that the marriage between 14-year-old girl, Habiba
Isa, and the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumin Usman, was irreversible.
The council said the marriage and Isa’s conversion to Islam were voluntarily and willingly entered into
by the girl.
The council told officials of the Katsina State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, who
visited Usman in his palace over the issue, that there was no evidence that the 14-year-old girl was
forced to act against her wish.
The family of Isiyaku Tanko of Warkaza community in the Kudun Kankara Local Government Area of
Katsina State on Wednesday alleged that Usman forcefully abducted their 14-year-old daughter and
forced her into marrying him.
She was said to have been abducted on August 16, 2016, by one Jamilu Lawal, an aide of the emir,
who worked in the palace. She was converted to Islam and held incommunicado.
Isa is expected to clock 15 years on Saturday, October 15, 2016, and would have resumed school for
the new academic term, but for her abduction.
She was said to have passed her Junior Secondary School Certificate Examination and was expected
to start Senior Secondary School.
The incident was blown open when the father of the victim lodged a complaint with Stefanos
Foundation, a humanitarian civil rights organisation, which took over the matter.
Isa was allowed to appear before CAN officials and others in the palace on Thursday, and was asked
three questions by the Kaora Katsina, Alhaji Nuhu Abdulkadir, on behalf of the emirate council.
She was asked whether she was forcefully converted to Islam, to which she replied no.
She was also asked whether the emirate council or any other person forced her into the marriage
with the emir, to which she also answered no.
The third question was whether by the time she met her husband, she was already experiencing
menstrual period, to which she answered yes.
The Kaora Katsina said, “The three questions are in line with the dictates of the Islamic religion.
Since Isa has voluntarily answered the three questions in our presence, there is no going back on her
marriage.”
Abdulkadir explained that in as much as the emirate council would not want to be involved in the
controversy surrounding the marriage, the palace of the emir was open to all Nigerians irrespective of
religion and tribe.
A letter purportedly written by Isa’s father was read to the gathering, apologising to the emirate
council for any embarrassment the issue might have caused it (the council).
The CAN Chairman for Katsina State, Very Rev. Nelson Ugochukwu, however, told the emirate council
that Isa’s marriage did not have the consent of her parents, who he said, were crying for justice in
Abuja.
The CAN leader said the association was not in support of the marriage and her conversion to Islam.
He said, “This girl (Isa) standing before us is 14 years. She is supposed to be in school and not given
out in marriage.
“We are not pleased and we demand justice. Her parents are in Abuja, crying for justice. In my
religion, you cannot give out any lady in marriage without the consent of her parents. This marriage
does not have the consent of this little girl’s parent. The parents are not happy with what has
happened.
“As the CAN chairman in Katsina, I am the father of all Christians in the state. Our people are not
happy. The parents told me that the girl is 14 years. She is supposed to be in school. I want justice
to be done in this matter. I want the emirate to look into the matter. To us, the girl is still a
Christian.”

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Shameful...I'll instuct my younger sis not to serve in the north as they are 300 years behind civilization...no pun intended!

bt hw do these guys find pleasure in truncating Peoples future
bt there children will be sent abroad and giving the best of education In one of the highest schools that exist.
.
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man is wicked
.
.

#StopChildMarriage

Who can tell the world the difference between what the emirate council did by abducting under age innocent Christians girls, converting them,marring them by raping a minor without the consent of her parents or relations and the mood boko haram used in abducting chibok girls . Imagine whole emirate that should not be seen or rumoured doing abominable things with underage girls! what do u expect from lower followers that look up to them . What a shame to a religion that encourage shameless paedophiles .

This is awful. She must have been warned to give those answers or face serious problems. Now all hope is lost for her.
I'm sure he's old enough to be her grandfather

KingRex1:
This is awful. She must have been warned to give those answers or face serious problems. Now all hope is lost for her.
I'm sure he's old enough to be her grandfather

of course

How can u marry somebody without her parent consent... This is abduction, rape etc Telling us is her wish they have hypnotised her. Justice must be done

Luckylife:
Who can tell the world the difference between what the emirate council did by abducting under age innocent Christians girls, converting them,marring them by raping a minor without the consent of her parents or relations and the mood boko haram used in abducting chibok girls . Imagine whole emirate that should not be seen or rumoured doing abominable things with underage girls! what do u expect from lower followers that look up to them . What a shame to a religion that encourage shameless paedophiles .

Their mission is forceful conversion by telling us is a marriage... Who can do that to their daughters.. Boko Haram in human skin.