A senator and former governor of Zamfara State of Nigeria, Ahmed Sani Yerima was questioned by officials of the National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and other Related Matters (NAPTIP) Tuesday over his marriage to 14-year old Egyptian girl.
Yerima, 50, who married the girl in Abuja but refused to respond to the issues.
He was however granted bail asked to report back to the agency on the 15 June,2010.
Outside the court,Yerima told journalists that he was not bound by the laws of Nigeria but by Islamic laws, which he claimed he has not breached.
Yerima, prior to contracting his marriage to the Egyptian child, had divorced a teenage wife whom he married when she was fifteen and is now seventeen.
The seventeen year old ex-wife's education was stopped during the time of the marriage and like the Egyptian girl, she is the daughter of a former driver to the senator.
Arinze Orakwe, head of communication and media of NAPTIP, confirmed the senator’s presence in the agency’s headquarters, and revealed that Yerima was released after more than two hours of questioning.
"He told the panel that he had not contravened any law and he tendered his marriage certificate to the girl in a Shari’a Court," he said.
The National Human Rights Commission, in a statement, commended NAPTIP for its intervention.
"This singular act has demonstrated that impunity has no place under the current democratic dispensation and sends a loud and clear warning that nobody is above or beneath the law in this country," stated the commission.
Meanwhile, Alliances for Africa, a non-governmental group said it was greatly concerned about the continuing incidents of early marriages in Africa.
"Cases of early marriage or child marriage are evident among some of the masses but are becoming a practice condoned by government officials."
"Although, in the best interest of the child, it is not advisable to disclose the name of the child, investigations reveal that the child is the daughter of Yerima’s driver in Cairo, Egypt"
Alliance for Africa said Yerima’s marriage "is a clear violation of Section 21 of the Child’s Rights Act of Nigeria 2003, which forbids the marriage of persons below 18 years".
It also violates Article 21(2) of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child which prohibits child marriage and betrothal, as well as Article 6(b), African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa that provides that the minimum age of marriage for women is 18 years. Egyptian Law also limits the minimum age of marriage to 18 years.
Posted: at 22-05-2010 02:07 PM (13 years ago) | Upcoming
All dis mad-man calling demselves extremists are a scum to dis society.without dis useless terrorists 9ja would have being a beta place than south africa.well sha,shame on them yar adua's death has been publicised cos we all know he died late last year.goodluck is now the president shame on mutallab's kinsmen
Here comes d Great King Xtervaganza
Posted: at 23-05-2010 12:15 PM (13 years ago) | Addicted Hero
All dis mad-man calling demselves extremists are a scum to dis society.without dis useless terrorists 9ja would have being a beta place than south africa.well sha,shame on them yar adua's death has been publicised cos we all know he died late last year.goodluck is now the president shame on mutallab's kinsmen
thats how stupid and hopeless you are , yar adua dies since late last year , na your father killed him so ? donkey head animal
Posted: at 23-05-2010 01:47 PM (13 years ago) | Grande Master
Ajanni,may all family die for earthquake,may iceland volcano wipe u out of dis planet.i follow u talk?abi na wetin concern my papa for dis?when a strainer takes in water all d water immediately goes out of it,once u read dis may everything connected to ur breathing desert u immediately
Here comes d Great King Xtervaganza
Posted: at 23-05-2010 02:29 PM (13 years ago) | Addicted Hero
Ajanni,may all family die for earthquake,may iceland volcano wipe u out of dis planet.i follow u talk?abi na wetin concern my papa for dis?when a strainer takes in water all d water immediately goes out of it,once u read dis may everything connected to ur breathing desert u immediately
look at this maggot so . may the water gush out underneth your house right now and carries you all into the river , useless and senseless peoples wetin concern you for the matter sef ? na tje mad one you call your papa born the girl why poke nosing for the thing wey no concerns you -- you that bastard , make GOD punish yopu so , na innside oven we go put all you those useless ones and baked you like bread so --- onye ara
Posted: at 23-05-2010 02:40 PM (13 years ago) | Grande Master
Wetin dey pain u oloshi?dat bearded idiot seem to be ur father.no what?its just a matter of b4 u get leashed like a dog.no be ur fault oh,d problem u have is dat ur father was a drunkard and ur mom a slut so u have not disappointed pple's xpectatn on u.u've only continued a family predicament.and wait a min,is ur dad not d filthy beggar dat was killed by dangote truck about 2 weeks ago.sorry dog,ur life needs a mend.
Here comes d Great King Xtervaganza
Posted: at 23-05-2010 02:53 PM (13 years ago) | Addicted Hero
All dis mad-man calling demselves extremists are a scum to dis society.without dis useless terrorists 9ja would have being a beta place than south africa.well sha,shame on them yar adua's death has been publicised cos we all know he died late last year.goodluck is now the president shame on mutallab's kinsmen
thats how stupid and hopeless you are , yar adua dies since late last year , na your father killed him so ? donkey head animal
Guys make una relax abeg, we are not fighting here ok..
@ajanni.. u self nah waoo.. u no know say yar'adua died long before he was buried?
Posted: at 23-05-2010 05:35 PM (13 years ago) | Upcoming
esonu
ajanni
xter
Mr-World
docreala
sabiti
iyke1
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