A rights group, Women Empowerment and Legal Aid, has given 30 days ultimatum to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, to prosecute Senator Ahmed Yerima, for marrying a 13-year-old girl.
Founder and Chairperson of the organisation, Mrs. Funmi Falana, who addressed journalists in Lagos on Tuesday, said Yerima’s marriage to the Egyptian girl in 2010 was a violation of Section 23 of the Child Rights Act.
She said her organisation would apply for a fiat to prosecute Yerima privately if after the expiration of the ultimatum, the AGF failed to heed its call.
Falana’s call came on the heels of the senate’s “controversial” resolution to retain Section 29(4)(b) in the constitution.
The “controversial” provision in the constitution states that any married underage girl is deemed an adult.
Falana, who also urged the Senate “to review its dangerous position”, said the AGF should prosecute Yerima, a former Governor of Zamfara State, in Abuja where he currently resides.
She said the time Yerima allegedly married the girl and the fact that Zamfara State, among other 11 states had yet to ratify the Child Rights Act, could not stop him from being prosecuted.
She said, “Finally, we call on the Attorney- General of Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), to ensure that Senator Ahmed Yerima is prosecuted for violating section 23 of the Child Rights Act by marrying a 13-year-old Egyptian girl in 2010.
“We give the AGF one month for him to begin the process of prosecuting Senator Yerima.”
Five years imprisonment with an option of fine or both, according to the Child Rights Act, awaits anyone convicted for marrying a girl under the age of 18.
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