The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has taken legal action against Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji, the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, to halt his intentions of marrying 100 girls.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Monday, she revealed that she has also lodged a complaint with the Inspector-General of Police regarding Sarkin-Daji’s proposal.
Kennedy-Ohanenye emphasized that a comprehensive investigation is underway concerning the matter, which is set to occur on May 24.
Recall Dockaysworld reported that the speaker had clarified that he is merely sponsoring the weddings and not coercing the girls into marriage.
Despite this clarification, Kennedy-Ohanenye stressed that such a plan is unacceptable, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing the girls’ futures. She stated that the ministry will assume responsibility for the girls’ education and vocational training.
She said:
“I want to let the honorable Speaker of the House in Niger state know that this is totally unacceptable by the Federal Minister of Women Affairs and by the government,”
“Because there is something called the Child’s Right Act and I said it from the onset, that 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.
“As 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 have 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 with sustainable empowerment machines to enable that child build his or her life and make up her mind who and 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.”
