Information reaching RantH Blog, that the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, on behalf of the Federal Government, has filed a petition with the Inspector General of Police and sought a court order to prevent Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, the Speaker of the Niger State Assembly, from arranging the marriage of 100 orphaned girls.
The orphans, who lost their parents in banditry attacks in Mariga local government area of the state, were intended to be married off as part of the Speaker's constituency project.
Kennedy-Ohanenye, in a press briefing in Abuja, expressed strong disapproval of the plans and stated that a thorough investigation into the matter has been initiated.
“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