Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, minister of women affairs, has petitioned the inspector-general of police (IGP) and sought a court injunction to halt the marriage of 100 girls in Niger state.

Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, speaker of the Niger state house of assembly, announced last week that he would sponsor the wedding of 100 girls, some of whom were orphaned by insurgency, as part of his Maringa constituency project.

He said he had procured materials for the event scheduled for May 24, and promised to pay dowries for the bridegrooms.

Following the outcry that trailed the announcement, the speaker explained that he was only financing the wedding — not forcing the girls into marriage.

However, Kennedy-Ohanenye said the plan is unacceptable, and that the future of the girls should be a priority.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Monday, the minister said a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the issue will be carried out.

She said the ministry will take responsibility for the girls’ education and vocational training.

“I want to let the honorable speaker of house in Niger state know that this is totally unacceptable by Federal Minister Of Women Affairs and by the government,” Kennedy-Ohanenye said.

“Because there is something called the Child’s Right Act and I said it from the onset, that is no more business as usual.

“These children must be considered, their future must be considered, the future of the children to come out of their marriage must be considered.

“So I have gone to court. I have written him a letter and written a petition to the IG of police.

“And I have filed for injunction to stop him from whatever he is planning to do on the 24th, until a thorough investigation is carried out on those girls, find out whether they gave their consent, their ages, find out the people marrying them.

“As the speaker did not think about empowering these women or sending them to school or giving them some kind of training support financially.

“The women affairs have decided to take it up and we are going to educate the children.

“Those that do not want to go to school, we will train them in a skill, empower them with sustainable empowerment machines to enable that child build his or her life and make up her mind who and when to get married.

“If for any reason the speaker tries to do contrary to what I have just mentioned, there will be a serious legal battle between him and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.”

The minister added that based on the Child Rights Act, every child belongs to the state, hence the rights of every child will be protected from harm and violence.

1. All new vehicles, generators or tricycles being procured by the government and its agencies must be powered by Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, solar or electric, the Federal Executive Council, FEC, decided on Monday. It was one of the major decisions reached by the council before it adjourned its marathon proceedings till today after over four hours.

2. Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara took the political crisis in the state a notch higher by declaring his intention to probe the administration of his predecessor and godfather, Nyesom Wike. Fubara, who served as Accountant-General of the state during Wike’s administration said a judicial panel of inquiry would investigate how the affairs of governance were conducted before he assumed office on May 29, last year.

3. Organised Labour on Monday called for a total reversal of the power sector privatisation and recovery of all sold public electricity assets. Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, made the demands while picketing offices of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, in Abuja and electricity distribution companies, DisCos, nationwide.

4. Key opposition figures on Monday began coalition talks ahead of 2027 polls, barely one year into the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Former Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi held meetings with his Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, counterpart, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

5. A new wage system based on employee productivity in the civil service is underway, the Federal Government said on Monday. The government explained that with the system, workers on the same level could earn different wages.

6. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, will arraign a former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, governor, Godwin Emefiele on Wednesday over the unlawful withdrawal of N124.8 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation. The agency also accused him of approving the printing of N684.5 million at the rate of N18.96 billion.

7. Some cement workers were abducted at Okpella, Etsako West local government area of Edo State, on Monday. The workers were in a Coaster bus heading back to Okpella community after the close of work when they were kidnapped.

8. Senator Olaka Nwogu has told Rivers State Governor, Sir. Siminalayi Fubara, that the plan to probe the past administration is a mere witch-hunt that will escalate the ongoing crisis. The former senator and elder statesman, who represented the Rivers Southeast in the National Assembly, said any attempt to initiate any probe at this stage of the crisis would be viewed as vendetta.

9. An officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, serving in the Federal Capital Territory, Abdulwahab Magaji, has reportedly shot himself dead at his Abuja residence. According to reports, Magaji killed himself with a pump-action rifle at his residence located at Binta Street, Farm Estate area, Abuja.

10. No fewer than 45 people were arrested by the men of the Ondo State Security Network Agency also known as Amotekun Corps, for allegedly involving in some criminal activities across the state. The suspects allegedly committed crimes which include, kidnapping, vandalism, theft, burglary and cultism.