The Kebbi State Hisbah Board is investigating a case of alleged marriage fraud after a man unknowingly married a woman who claimed she was still under another man’s marriage.
According to a statement by the Hisbah Media Team, the man met the woman on the road and proposed marriage. She accepted, and they agreed on a bride price of ₦500,000, which he paid into her bank account. At her instruction, he arranged for the marriage to be solemnized.
After the marriage, the man called the woman’s father to inform him. The father congratulated the couple and wished them well.
The woman reportedly told her new husband she would move in only after he finished preparing their house. While he was renovating the home, she called to tell him he was not her husband because she was still married to another man at the time of their wedding.
Preliminary investigations by Hisbah revealed this was not the first time the woman had been involved in such an incident. When questioned, her father said he was aware of her first marriage because he was informed.
However, he said he did not know about a second marriage, as he was never told. The current case is the third marriage he has heard about.
Hisbah also contacted the man whom the woman claimed was her husband. He told the board he had divorced her long ago, meaning she was not under his marriage when she made the claim.
The Hisbah Board noted that there are “signs suggesting the woman may be facing a problem that requires further investigation and expert attention.” As a result, it said no judgment can be passed until investigations are concluded.
The board said the incident has caused “confusion and conflict” and was reported to them for resolution “in accordance with Islamic teachings and legal procedures.”
The Media Team of the Kebbi State Hisbah Board released the details and asked for public opinion and advice on the matter.
