The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has filed a petition with the Inspector General of Police and is seeking a legal injunction to halt the plans of Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, the Speaker of the Niger State Assembly, who intends to marry off 100 orphaned girls as part of a constituency project.
The girls, who became orphans following bandit attacks in Mariga Local Government Area, are at the center of the Speaker’s initiative, which he claims is designed to “ease the hardship of the destitute” by covering the dowries and providing materials for their wedding.
Kennedy-Ohanenye, addressing the press in Abuja, condemned the Speaker’s proposal as “unacceptable” and confirmed that an extensive investigation into the matter is underway.
“I want to let the honorable speaker of the house in Niger State to know that this is totally unacceptable by the Federal Minister of Women Affairs and by the government, totally unacceptable.
“Because there is something called the Child’s Right Act and I said it from the onset, that it is no more business as usual.
“These children must be considered, their future 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,” she said
