A 14-YEAR-OLD ABDUCTED,CONVERTED AND MARRIED. FREED?.

Emir of Kano said he did not support the conversion of a 14-year-old girl abducted and married by Yinusa, a tricycle operator who has been operated in Bayelsa State.
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The incident that happened since Monday August 12, 2015, the emirate waited until the world was started calling and Punch organized a campaign on that regard

Ese Oruru is a Bayelsa girl who was taken captive by  Yinusa a man from from Kano State.She was forcefully married converted to Islam. She was released  barely 24 hours after inauguration of PUNCH newspaper campaign and a number of of calls from international societies for the release of the minor.

This has always being the case simply because this action has not been well sanctioned. these are some of the responses of Nigerians.

Mr. Emeka Ngige, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said the Bayelsa State Governor, Siriake Dickson, should also be held accountable for the incident.

He said, “The Bayelsa State Governor should tell the public why he would allow such a thing to happen in his domain. All the police personnel, who failed in their duties of rescuing the girl, including the Inspector-General of Police, should be appropriately sanctioned.”

Human rights lawyer, Festus Keyamo, said Ese could not make a decision for herself until she reached the age of 21.

He said, “It is worrisome that the girl was taken away without the consent of her parents. Any girl that is under the age of 21, no matter the religion involved, should not be married off without the consent of her parents. If anyone is saying it is tradition, then that tradition is repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience and should be rejected.

“In law, 21 is the age of maturity and consent, while 18 is the voting age. To sign a contract or enter into any other agreement, you must be 21.”

A Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Yemi Omodele, said Ese’s parents had a valid cause of action and urged them to approach a high court in Bayelsa State to enforce their daughter’s rights.

“If it is true that the age is 14, the parents have a legal right to approach the appropriate court of law within the southern region of the country, particularly in Bayelsa. They can approach the state high court in Bayelsa to protect the girl’s rights,” he said. 

Posted as news by www.punchng.com