By Sabiu Abdullahi
The controversy surrounding the arrest and trial of Kano-based social media influencer, Murja Kunya, has escalated with her mother, Hadizatul Kubra, vehemently rejecting what she perceives as the inhumane treatment of her daughter at the Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital in Kano.
Murja Kunya, currently held in custody by the Kano State Hisbah Board, faced a Shari’a Court order to undergo medical evaluation at the government-owned psychiatric hospital ahead of her impending trial.
Charges including indecency, public nuisance, and promoting prostitution were leveled against her by the Hisba Board.
Expressing concern over her daughter’s treatment, Murja’s lawyer, A.U. Haji, criticised the hospital for allegedly attempting to administer unidentified substances without informing her about her health status, branding it a violation of her human rights.
According to Leadership newspaper, Murja’s combative behaviour towards healthcare personnel has further complicated her situation.
In a widely circulated audio interview, Hadizatul Kubra voiced dissatisfaction with her daughter’s alleged maltreatment, asserting Murja’s sound mental health but dramatic disposition.
She recounted being urgently summoned to the hospital, where Murja was reportedly distressed, and denounced what she perceived as mistreatment.
In the audio, Kubra appealed to the state government for leniency while opposing psychiatric evaluation or treatment for her daughter, adamantly refusing any injections, stating, “I know they are doing this to kill my daughter, and I will never allow her to be injected with anything, no matter what.”
She highlighted Murja’s familial support, particularly towards her and her ailing father.
The court hearing is slated to resume on May 20, 2024, following the completion of the psychiatric evaluation as ordered by the trial judge, amid continued contention surrounding Murja Kunya’s case.