Women Affairs Minister Withdraws Suit Against Niger Assembly Speaker Over Orphan Mass Marriage

Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has withdrawn the lawsuit filed against Niger State Assembly Speaker Abdulmalik Sarkindaji over his plan to marry off 100 orphans from his constituency.

According to Kennedy-Ohanenye, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs will subsequently focus on empowering the girls who became orphans in the state due to insecurity.

However, the Minister said this is in partnership with the Niger State Assembly and traditional leaders who had requested Sarkindaji finance the mass marriage and will now investigate the girl’s age to confirm if they are of marriage age.

Recall that days after the Minister filed the petition against the speaker, traditional and Muslim community leaders held a meeting calling President Tinubu to relieve the Minister of her position if she failed to withdraw the petition.

The Secretary of Niger State Imams’ Forum, Umar-Faruk Abdullahi, who made the demand on Thursday afternoon in a meeting, urged the Minister to withdraw her statement, which made the public believe the girls were underage.

She used many words to blackmail the Speaker and the Muslims of Niger States, he said.

Also, to withdraw the petition filed to the Inspector General of Police demanding that Nigerians learn to respect other people’s traditions and culture.

Meanwhile, the mass wedding, which sparked public debates and controversies, is now confirmed to be held on May 24, 2024.

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Mayowa Durosinmi

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M. Durosinmi is a West Africa Weekly investigative reporter covering Politics, Human Rights, Health, and Security in West Africa and the Sahel Region

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