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.
The orphans reportedly lost their parents due to banditry attacks in Mariga local government area of the state.
The Speaker announced that marrying them off would be part of his constituency project.
He announced that the gesture is “aimed at alleviating the suffering of the impoverished”, pledging to pay the dowries for the bridegrooms and have procured materials for the mass marriage.
Kennedy-Ohanenye, while briefing newsmen in Abuja on Monday, described the plans as “unacceptable” emphasising that a full-scale investigation has commenced on the issue.
“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
