Planned mass wedding: Women Affairs minister Uju Kennedy bows to pressure, withdraws suit against Niger speaker
Uju Kennedy -Ohanenye, the Minister of Women Affairs, on Friday, withdrew a suit earlier filed against the speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, over his plans to marry off 100 orphans from his constituency.
The Informant247 had earlier reported that the Minister had petitioned Olukayode Egbetokun, the Inspector General of Police, and sought a court injunction stopping the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, from proceeding with his marriage plans for 100 orphaned girls.
It would be recalled that the Speaker had recently announced plans to marry off the orphaned girls who lost their parents due to banditry attacks in the Mariga Local Government Area as part of his constituency projects on May 24, saying the gesture was “aimed at alleviating the suffering of the impoverished”, pledging to pay the dowries for the bridegrooms and procuring materials for the mass marriage.
The minister, while speaking with newsmen, disclosed that the ministry, in collaboration with the speaker of the Niger state assembly and traditional rulers from the state, is currently investigating the ages of the girls to ascertain if they are within the stipulated age for marriage, adding that the Ministry of Women Affairs will focus on empowering girls, as well as others affected by insecurity in the state.
