A FILE containing the Islamic document, the Nikka, through which the late Rift Valley provincial commissioner , Ishmael Juma Chelang’a’s marriage was registered was devoured by termites, the High Court was told yesterday.

And Maalim Said Al Hatat Mohamed carried a whole paper bag full of paper parts that had remained after the documents in a box he allegedly left at the late Sheikh Ramadhani Njoka ’s residence, in Embu were devoured by termites.

Led by Zaina Mukami Chelang’a ’ s lawyer Cecil Miller, Maalim Mohamed explained before Justice Alex Etyang how he left the documents in a box on the ground at Sheikh Ramadhani’s residence in 1987 only to find last year that termites had destroyed them. Margaret Muthoni Ndwiga represents the Chelang’a family.

The Islamic teacher told Justice Etyang that , he conducted the Nikka ceremony between Chelang’a and the former Zaina Mukami Abubakr
on March 23, I983. He told the court that Mukami had asked a dowry of Shs 1000 from Chelang’a.

He said that the Nikka ceremony was conducted in the presence of her father , her brother, Abubakar Maranga, a family friend, Rajab Ali, and other witnesses from the Majimbo area in Embu., Chelang’a was then a District Officer in Embu.

Mohamed was testifying in a succession cause where the objectors of the succession of the late PC Martha Cherop and her son Swaleh Chepkole argue that Mukami was not legally married to Chelangaa. However, in a bid to argue her case, Mukami had called in witnesses to the nikka ceremony.