The Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday, ruled in favour of women in the Affirmative Action suit filed on their behalf by Falana and Falana Chambers and Barrister Marshal Abubakar.

The women groups had litigated to seek true interpretation to the anti-discriminatory provisions and gender equality as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (amended).

Ruling after striking the defendants’ lack of locus standi objection application argued by the office of the Attorney General of the Federal (AGF) and Minister of Justice that said the rights of the applicants had been breached, Justice Donatus Okorowo held that the plaintiffs, who are gender groups and NGOs, have shown their interest in the suit via their affidavit evidence.

On the main issue, the court struck out the defendants’ affidavit and held that the plaintiffs have proven their case before the court. The court, therefore, resolved the two issues in their favour of the plaintiffs and granted all the reliefs sought.

Recall Nigeria currently ranks very low globally at 184th out of 187 nations in female representation in parliament.

The matter, which had been adjourned a number of times, including twice in the last 72 hours, is a statement on the extent of country’s readiness to practise inclusion based on the international and regional instruments that it had signed since independence in 1960. 

The gender was represented by a coalition of women groups, including the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF); Women Empowerment and Legal Aid (WELA); Women in Politics Forum (WIPF); Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD – West Africa); Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC); Vision Spring Initiatives (VSI); YIAGA Africa; International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) and 100 Women Lobby Group.