Habiba Isa, the 14-year-old allegedly forced into marriage to a subject of the Emir of Katsina, Jamilu Lawal, must be made to take a lie detector test.
A security expert, Taiwo Oyenekan, who said this, added that only a lie detector could tell if her alleged consent to the marriage and conversion to Islam were genuine.
PUNCH Metro had reported that Isa was allegedly forcefully taken from her parents in Warkaza community, in the Kudun Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The family had alleged that Isa was abducted and forced into marrying Lawal.
The family had initially claimed that Isa, who was abducted on August 16, 2016, was married off to the emir, but further checks showed that Lawal, who allegedly abducted and converted Isa to Islam, married and held her incommunicado.
Isa clocked 15 years on Saturday, October 15, 2016, and should have been in school for the new academic term, but for her abduction.
Our correspondent reported that a delegation of the Christian Association of Nigeria, which visited the palace, was allowed access to the minor.
She was asked three questions by the Kaora Katsina, Alhaji Nuhu Abdulkadir, on behalf of the emirate council.
She was reportedly asked if she was forcefully converted to Islam and if she was forced into the marriage, to which she allegedly said no.
When also asked if she had started experiencing menstrual period before she met her husband, she allegedly answered in the affirmative.
Abdulkadir was said to have declared the marriage irreversible, adding that the three questions were in line with the Islamic religion.
But the security expert said only a polygraph could say if Isa’s replies were not forced.
He said, “When they are going (to the palace) the next time, they should not rely on the mere words of the girl, because they may not be from her heart. They should go with a polygraph, which is truth-test equipment.
“It is only the machine that can show if what she says is the truth or she is under coercion. Also, they may need a consultant to ask pertinent questions demanding a yes or no monosyllable response. I believe it is wrong and uncultured to take a girl and marry her without the consent of her parents.”
Culled from PUNCH.
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