According to him, the suspects comprise the couple and three others who served as representatives and a witness during the ceremony.
The Kano State Hisbah Board has arrested five individuals, including a bride and groom, for allegedly conducting a marriage ceremony without the consent of their parents.
Deputy Commander General of the Board, Dr. Mujahideen Aminuddeen, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued in Kano on Monday, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
According to him, the suspects comprise the couple and three others who served as representatives and a witness during the ceremony.
He said the marriage was contracted with a ₦10,000 dowry, an amount the board described as below the minimum standard recognised in Islamic marital law.
Dr. Aminuddeen stated that the marriage contravened both Islamic and legal procedures governing marriage, adding that an investigation had already commenced.
He urged parents to be more vigilant over their children’s social and marital decisions to prevent similar incidents.
The development comes just days after the Kano State Government directed the Hisbah Board to begin arrangements for the mass wedding of 2,000 couples across the state.
Announcing the development on Thursday, the Deputy Commander-General of the Kano State Hisbah Board, Sheikh Mujahid Aminudeen, said the process would begin with registration and compulsory medical screening for all intending couples.
“All prospective couples interested in the wedding must register before participating,” Sheikh Aminudeen said.
He noted that the medical screening, which includes tests for HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, genotype, and drug use, is mandatory for all participants.
“Anyone who fails to undergo it will be disqualified,” he added.
According to Sheikh Aminudeen, the compulsory tests are designed to safeguard the health of participants and prevent future marital and medical complications.
In February 2025, the Kano State government announced that N2.5 billion had been earmarked for mass weddings across the state.
The state’s Commissioner of Planning and Budget, Musa Sulaiman Shanono, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the breakdown of the N719.7 billion 2025 fiscal budget. He said the funds would cover quarterly mass weddings in all 44 local government areas of Kano.
In 2023, SaharaReporters reported that the state spent over N800 million to provide furniture, food items, and clothing for 1,800 couples under the mass wedding scheme.
The Hisbah board commander, Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa, who inspected the items, revealed that each bride received a bed with a mattress and pillows, as well as N20,000 to start a business.
He added that criteria were established for selecting beneficiaries, and anyone who divorced their spouse after the marriage would be required to repay the state for the items provided.
On the other hand, he stated that benefactors and affluent persons have committed to contribute their fair share to ensure the success of the mass wedding.
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