The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has withdrawn a lawsuit against the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, over his plan to marry off 100 orphans from his constituency.
The minister had earlier filed a suit against the speaker following his announcement to marry off the orphans, citing concerns over the age of the girls and the legality of the marriages. However, in a recent development, the minister has decided to withdraw the suit and instead collaborate with the speaker and traditional rulers from the state to investigate the ages of the girls and ensure they meet the stipulated age for marriage.
According to the minister, the Ministry of Women Affairs will focus on empowering the girls and others affected by insecurity in the state. The development comes after the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) urged the minister to withdraw the litigation and petition she wrote to the Inspector General of Police.
The speaker’s plan to marry off the orphans, scheduled for May 24, 2024, had sparked national outrage, with many expressing concerns over the legality and morality of the marriages.
