Controversy over release of Kano Tiktoker Murja Kunya from prison

A cloud of controversy looms over the unexpected release of Murja Ibrahim, the embattled Kano TikTok skit maker, from prison custody before the scheduled date for her bail hearing by a Sharia Court. Murja, along with five others, had been declared wanted by the Kano State Hisbah Board and was subsequently arrested in the Hotoro Tinshama area of the city.

Reports from Daily News 24 indicate that Murja’s arrest stemmed from complaints lodged by her neighbors, alleging her involvement in immoral behavior such as public nuisance, attempts to corrupt and recruit young girls into prostitution, and sharing explicit material and vulgar language on social media platforms.

Following her arrest, Murja was arraigned at a Sharia Court in Gama ward, where Judge Malam Nura Yusuf Ahmed remanded her in prison until the scheduled hearing for her bail application on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. Murja pleaded not guilty to the charges presented by the prosecutor, Aliyu Abideen.

However, in a surprising turn of events, reports emerged on Sunday, two days before the adjourned date, suggesting that Murja had disappeared from prison custody, sparking speculation about a potential escape. Nonetheless, Musbahu Kofar Nasarawa, a spokesman for the Kano Correctional Centre, refuted claims of an escape, stating that Murja was released by the court, which had initially remanded her. According to Nasarawa, Murja spent only two days in custody instead of the expected seven.

While the Kano Correctional Centre maintains that the court ordered Murja’s release, independent verification of this claim remains elusive. Nasiru Salisu Zango, a prominent journalist, took to his Facebook page to shed light on the matter, asserting that sources from the court deny the judge granting bail to the defendant. As conflicting narratives persist, questions surrounding the circumstances of Murja’s release continue to deepen, leaving many puzzled and seeking clarity on the unfolding situation.