[size=16pt]Egypt:Why We’ve Not Acted on Yarima’s Marriage to Minor
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After more than a month of public pressure, the Embassy of Egypt in Abuja has said it cannot take any action on the alleged marriage of Senator Ahmed Sani Yarima to an Egyptian minor because the matter has not been brought to its attention officially.
Also, the Senate has directed that an investigation be conducted on the matter while the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Iyom Josephine Anenih has said the Federal Government cannot initiate legal action until concrete evidence is provided.


Yarima who is the former Governor  of Zamfara State now Senate Minority Whip, came under fire from women rights activists and civil society groups  for his alleged marriage to a 13-year old Egyptian.
The marriage had reportedly taken place in Abuja because the Egyptian authorities would not endorse getting hitched to an underage girl.
The Press & Information Officer of the Egyptian Embassy in Nigeria Dr. Mohammed Saber told THISDAY on phone that, “We cannot take the girl away from where she is because no one has reported anything to us.”
He, however, confirmed that he is aware of the matter through newspaper reports.


Meanwhile, swayed by public pressure, the Senate has directed an investigation into the matter. A petition by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which was presented by Chair of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Emem Uffot Ekaette paved the way for the investigation.
Ekaette had raised a point of order, citing Rule 41 of the Senate Standing Rules (2007 as amended) which forecloses debate to lay a copy of the petition, consequent upon which the Upper House asked the Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition Committee to investigate the matter.




Yarima’s action is seen by women groups as a setback in the fight against Vesicovaginal Fistula  (VVF), especially when considering his social standing as a Senator and a former governor.


VVF occurs when the blood supply to the tissues of the womanliness and the bladder is restricted during prolonged obstructed labour. Consequently, the tissues die between these organs, forming holes through which urine can pass uncontrollably. It widely happens to minors because of their yet to be fully developed organs.

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These Egyptians are not even active at allllll! Imagine Nigeria women fighting their battle for them. Anyway, the parents of the babe should bear the brunt.