Minister of women affairs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye said she has got a court injunction against the proposed mass wedding of 100 female orphans in Niger State.
Mrs Kennedy-Ohanenye stated this at the distribution of the first phase of free 1,000 units of point of sales (POS) machines among women in the FCT.
The minister said she filed the suit through her lawyer Daniel Omakor on behalf of the girls.
Speaker of the Niger House of Assembly Abdulmalik Sarkindaji earlier said he planned to marry the girls off as part of his constituency project and as a way of alleviating poverty.
Sarkindaji explained that the girls became orphans as a result of attacks by bandits in Mairiga Local Government Area in his constituency.
However, the minister said Justice Abdullahi Mikailu made the order restraining Sarkindaji, whether acting by himself or through his agents or privies from proceeding with the payment of dowries ahead of the planned marriage on May 24 or any other date.
According to Kennedy-Ohanenye, the plan to marry off the girls is a violation of their rights.
“When you see something, say something. Move on to support issues of any maltreatment of young girls, babies and women.
“Give your support to this movement. Don’t keep quiet, let us not lose our voices. With this injunction, can anybody marry out our girls?” she asked.
