A Shari’a Court in Rigasa, Kaduna, on Tuesday remanded a woman whose phone rang during a court session, disrupting proceedings.
Presiding judge, Malam Muhammad Adamu, ordered the remand after ruling that the woman would face charges for obstructing the court process.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the incident occurred while the court was in full session. Despite an earlier warning from the court clerk for phones to be switched off or silenced, the woman’s phone rang audibly.
When court officials asked her to surrender the device, she refused, further aggravating the situation.
“This is my first time in court,” the woman pleaded before the judge. “I didn’t know how the court operates. I only came to observe.”
The court, however, held that ignorance was no excuse. Judge Adamu directed her immediate remand and ordered the confiscation of the phone.
Following the incident, the judge reinforced the courtroom’s standing policy on mobile devices, instructing that all attendees display their phone and ensure they were switched off.
Court officials reiterated that the rules are not new. “The clerk clearly warned everyone before proceedings began,” one official said. “Phones must be turned off or put on silent.”
Legal observers say the incident serves as a cautionary reminder to the public about maintaining decorum and respecting court procedures.
Court insiders confirmed that the woman may be charged with contempt or obstruction, depending on legal advice from prosecutors.
“This is not about punishment alone,” one lawyer said outside the courtroom. “It’s about protecting the integrity of the judicial process.”
The woman remains in custody pending further instructions from the judge.
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