Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, Minister of Women Affairs, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and sought for a court injunction to stop Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, Speaker of the Niger state Assembly from marrying off 100 orphaned girls. The Speaker recently announced his plans to marry off the orphaned girls, who lost their parents due to banditry attacks in Mariga Local Government Area as part of his constituency project on May 24......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
He announced that the gesture was “aimed at alleviating the suffering of the impoverished”, pledging to pay the dowries for the bridegrooms. He said he had procured materials for the mass marriage.
Kennedy-Ohanenye, while briefing newsmen in Abuja described the plans as “unacceptable” emphasising that a full-scale investigation had commenced on the issue.
“I want to let the honourable Speaker of house in Niger State to know that this is totally unacceptable by Federal Minister of Women Affairs.
“There is something called the Child’s Right Act and I said it from the onset, there is no more business as usual.
“These children must be considered, their future must be considered, the future of the children to come out of their marriage must be considered.
“So I have gone to court. I have written him a letter and written a petition to the IG of police.
“And I have filed for injunction to stop him from whatever he is planning to do on the 24th, until a thorough investigation is carried out on those girls, find out whether they gave their consent, their ages, find out the people marrying them.
” Since the speaker did not think about empowering these women or sending them to school or giving them some kind of training support financially, the Women Affairs has decided to take it up and we are going to educate the children.
“Those that do not want to go to school, we will train them in a skill, empower them so the child can make up her mind when to get married.
” If for any reason the Speaker tries to do contrary to what I have just mentioned there will be a serious legal battle between him and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs,” she said.
The minister further emphasised that within the Child Rights Act, every child belongs to the state, hence their rights will be protected from harm, violence or anything that will infringe on their rights. (NAN)