Women Affairs Minister Denies Withdrawing Lawsuit Against Niger State Speaker Over Orphan Mass Marriage Proposal

The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has debunked reports alleging that she withdrew the lawsuit filed against Niger State Assembly Speaker Abdulmalik Sarkindaji over his plan to marry off 100 orphans in the state.

Kennedy-Ohanenye debunked this on Friday on Channels Television.

She said, “The case is not yet withdrawn. I want to make that clear. How do I withdraw a case in a day?” the minister said

“Well, before I even withdraw the case, we have to go back to court and tell the court that we have settled. We are withdrawing the case.

“How can I go and withdraw? We are still trying to organise ourselves to partner well and get this problem sorted.”

The minister filed the suit after Niger State House of Assembly Speaker Abdulmalik Sarkindaji proposed a mass marriage for 100 orphaned girls in his constituency.

Various groups criticised the proposal, leading the minister to file a lawsuit against it. In response to the backlash, Sarkindaji said he was dropping the plans.

On Friday, they met to discuss possible solutions. The minister explained, saying, “I filed a motion ex parte. I equally filled a motion on notice. Why did I do that before I met with my brothers and we decided to make peace?

“I filed it because, by the time motion ex parte expires, they must have gotten their seven days to file their response.

But if I didn’t get the motion ex parte, the wedding could go on before they would be able to file and the whole thing must have been overtaken by events.”

 

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