Com. Oz
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« on: April 28, 2010, 07:06:03 AM » |
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Following revelation bizarre and controversial marriage between Senator Sani Yerima and the Egyptian underage, titled, Sen. Yerima weds a 13-year old...pays $100k in bride price, there are
strong indications that the Senate will on resumption from the Easter break debate Senator Sanni Yerima with a 13-year-old girl from Egypt.
Information made available by a source on condition of anonymity revealed that, the Senate disclosed that “the upper legislative body will soon deliberate on the marriage recently contracted between Yerima, a former governor of Zamfara State and serving Senator to an underage girl from Egypt. The development is very wrong and lacks any sign of morality. It is a clear case of child abuse which we have been fighting against. It is illegal and should be condemned by well meaning and right thinking Nigerians,” the highly influential Senator declared.
The lawmaker noted that “the law of the land frowns at this kind of marriage which is a clear case of child abuse. It is embarrassing to the Senate and indeed the National Assembly and that is why the issue would be tabled before the Senate and decision will be taken.”
Condemning the marriage, the federal lawmaker stated that, “the development becomes more embarrassing considering the calibre of the Senator involved, who should know better as a former state chief executive and a serving lawmaker.”
Former Governor of Zamfara State and a serving Senator, Alhaji Sani Yerima, some weeks back got married to a 13-year-old girl from Egypt. We reliably gathered that the marriage ceremony between the senator and the minor was not allowed to take place in Egypt because of an existing law which bars minors from getting married; hence, the ceremony was shifted to Nigeria. However, there has been a lot of criticisms and reactions as a result of the publication from members of the public particularly from those of the Muslim faith, sequel to this marriage scandal. But critics should however note that in 2003, the National Assembly of Nigeria passed a law on child rights which supercede the provisions under the Sharia legal code. The law clearly forbids marrying girls under the age of 18.
Also the Child Right Act defines a child as one who is below the age of eighteen years (18). It categorically provides that such a child’s best interests shall remain paramount in all considerations. A child shall be given such protection and care as is necessary for its wellbeing, retaining the right to survival and development and to a name and registration at birth.
The Act prohibits betrothal and marriage of children and by marrying a 13 year old child, Sani Ahmed Yerima, the former Sharia governor turned law maker broke an international law.
Findings shows that in order to protect the right of children, an International law or” International Convention” was required. On 20th November 1989, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), whilst the OAU Assembly of Heads of States and Governments adopted the African Union Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (CRCW) in July 1990.
Nigeria is signatory to both International Instruments and had ratified them in 1991 and 2000 respectively. Our checks reveals that both international instruments contain universal set of standards and principles for survival, development, protection and participation of children. It reflects children as human beings and as subjects of their own rights. The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) outlines the human rights to be respected and protected for every child under the age of 18 years and requires that these rights are implemented.
In addition, the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Egypt is a signatory, forbids the sale of children and bans marriage under the age of 16.
According to Nihad Abul Qumsan, director of the Egyptian Centre for Women’s Rights, Egyptian law bans marriage of girls under 16.
In the word of an Islamic scholar who elected anonymity, “$100k as bride price is outrageous”. A twist to the saga, is that the one hundred thousand dollars, which Sen. Yerima paid as dowry, was meant for the outright purchase of the of the Egyptian girl. Thus the law maker turned law breaker, offense may not only be marriage to a minor, but also trading in humans.
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