CHILD MARRIAGE: REPS INVESTIGATE PETITIONS AGAINST SANI

Alhaji Ahmed Sani
The House of Representatives has commenced investigation on eight petitions filed against a former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Ahmed Sani, for marrying a 13-years-old girl.

The Speaker of the House, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, made this known when he received members of the Nigerian Children Parliament at the National Assembly complex in Abuja on Wednesday.

Bankole, who vowed that the House was determined to put a stop to child marriages, lamented that the practise was common in many parts of Nigeria.

He said that the legislature had not taken Sani's marriage to the Egyptian minor lightly, adding that the fight against child marriage had been on for a while.

The speaker stated that the ex-governor's marriage to the minor was not an example anybody should be proud of.

He noted that Sani's action had made the need to stop such harmful practices against children urgent.

He said, 'This time around, we are not taking it lightly; maybe for the first time, we will put a stop to this problem.'

Bankole said he was also aware that the National Human Rights Commission, civil organisations and other groups were on top of the case, adding that it would be pursued to a logical conclusion.

The speaker added that the case involving Sani only brought to the front burner, a problem that had existed for ages and therefore must be stopped.

He blamed the executive arm of government for failing to implement laws and resolutions of the National Assembly which would have improved the lot of children and disadvantaged groups.

Earlier, the President of the children parliament, Miss Esther Afolayon, had called for the intervention of Bankole in stopping all forms of violence against children.