Minister files IG petition against 100 Nigeria orphans’ marriage plans
To prevent Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly Abdulmalik Sarkindaji from marrying off 100 orphaned girls, Minister of Women Affairs Mrs. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye has petitioned Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun for a court order.
As part of his constituency initiative, the Speaker recently declared intentions to marry off the orphaned girls who lost their parents in banditry attacks in the Mariga local government region on May 24.
Pledged to pay the bridegrooms’ dowries and obtain supplies for the mass marriage, he declared that the gesture was “aimed at alleviating the suffering of the impoverished”.
Kennedy-Ohanenye stressed that a thorough inquiry has started on the matter and called the proposals “unacceptable” when briefing journalists in Abuja.
“I want the honourable speaker of the house in Niger states to know that the government and the Federal Minister of Women Affairs find this unacceptable.
As I mentioned from the beginning, there is a thing called the Child’s Rights Act, hence business as usual is no longer possible.
The future of these children and the children who will emerge from their marriage need to be taken into account.
I have therefore visited court. I have petitioned to the police IG and sent him a letter.
“And I have filed for an 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, find out their ages, find out the people marrying them,” she stated.
As the speaker did not consider empowering these women or sending them to school or providing them with some form of training support monetarily, the minister underlined the necessity to guarantee girl-child education and empowerment.
“We are going to teach the kids since the ministry has decided to take it up.
Those who choose not to attend school will receive skill training and sustainable empowerment machines to help them construct their lives and decide when and with whom to get married.
“There will be a serious legal battle between the Speaker and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs if for any reason he tries to do contrary to what I have just mentioned,” she declared.
Every kid belongs to the state, the minister underlined in the kid Rights Act, and as such, their rights would be safeguarded against injury, assault, or anything else that might violate them.