Muslim lawyers hire five SANs against minister over marriage of 100 orphans

The Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria (MULAN) has faulted the position of Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, on the proposed mass wedding of 100 orphans in Niger State.

Besides, the Muslim lawyers declared that not less than five Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) and 27 other members of the association have prepared to meet the minister at any court of competent jurisdiction on her litigation.

National President of MULAN, Barrister Saeed Muhammad Tudun-Wada, disclosed the position on Friday while reacting to the controversy generated by the Minister on the planned Wedding.

Mrs Ohanenye instituted legal action and further petitioned the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokum against the move of Niger State Speaker Rt. Hon. Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji to sponsor the marriage of 100 girls who have lost their parents to banditry.

According to MULAN president, the minister has overstretched her limit by her decision to delve into issues of private and personal interest of the girls in Niger state.

Tudun-Wada explained that MULAN is always ready to join issues or matters directly affecting Muslims anywhere in the world, insisted the association is prepared to defend the decision of the speaker and the choices of the 100 girls to marry their suitors.

The MULAN National President stressed that the constitution of the Federal of Nigeria is generous enough to allow every Nigerian to conduct marriage with whoever he or she is so wishes, so long such act did not violate any provision of the constitution.

He said MULAN is fully behind the proposed mass wedding and the genuine interest of the speaker to ease the burden of the marriage is well in line with Islamic principles.

“By the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, every Nigerian has the fundamental right to marry who he or she is so willing or wishes to marry.

“The constitution does not limit our activities as far as the mass wedding is concern.

“We would encourage the speaker of the Niger state to continue with the plan and proposed sponsorship of the mass wedding.

“The Constitution did not prohibit anybody from getting marry or limit the right but rather given us the leverage to marry a choice suitor.

“We want to make it known that we the Muslim Lawyers are ready to remove any clog on the wheel of progressive exercise of Muslims rights and to put our strength behind the noble course of our brothers in Niger State.”