₦airaland Forum

I doubt many of the respondents gave deep thought to the issue before they started responding. There is this assumption or perharps a stereotypes that anytime a underage girl is married the suitor is always an older man and that its a Northerner. There are legitimate marriages between 15, 16, 17yr old girls and boys their age bracket and this must not be outlawed.

Changing the provisions of the constitution might regrettably remove that option for young suitors.

fujirice: I know this house of reps member in one of the state house of assembly down here, this woman knows nada as in absolutely NADA but she was forced on her people by the then governor. Her own is to raise her hand when others(majority of people in the house) are raising and keeps it down when FEW people raised theirs. She's still in that house to date making laws for my people.........its just too sad!

BTW lest the Christians attribute drop in crime rates to the idea that muslims constitute the bulk of criminals
we should remember that crime rate rises close to Christmas

The clause that is really causing this unnecessary hullabaloo is Section 29 (4) (b). That clause has always been part of our laws, but the Senate moved to remove it as infringing on child’s right by making every married woman an adult.

Rhea: [size=18pt]
We don't need your apologies. Kindly tender your resignation. That is the first step to reclaiming your honour.[/size]

the constitution is currently being amended and rights groups have called for the deletion of subsection 4b.

naptu2: The 1979 constitution did not contain provisions for renunciation of citizenship. During constitutional review debates in 1979 Aminu Kano (the leader of the PRP) felt that the age of 18 years used in subsection 4a was an arbitrary western concept of maturity. The legislators in 1979 at the time agreed with the PRP argument and subsection 4b was included.

That section has been in the constitution since then. It reads thus (I've also included subsection 4):

29. (1) Any citizen of Nigeria of full age who wishes to renounce his Nigerian citizenship shall make a declaration in the prescribed manner for the renunciation.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section.

(a) "full age" means the age of eighteen years and above;

(b) any woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age.


The constitution is currently being amended and rights groups have called for the deletion of subsection 4b.

You need 2/3rds majority of votes in the senate, house of representatives and 2/3rds of all the state houses of assembly in order to amend the constitution.

2/3rds of the senators present at that time = 73 votes. The senate voted and more than 73 senators voted that 4b should be deleted. The senate moved on to other clauses.

A while later, Senator Yerima raised a point of order that subsection 4b cannot be deleted because deleting it is against islamic law. He stated that in islam, a woman is deemed to be of full age once she has gotten married. The Senate President, David Mark, reminded Yerima that the Senate has a tradition that it does not re-visit a clause once it has been voted on, but Senator Yerima continued to protest.

Eventually the Senate President agreed to hold a second vote. This time 60 senators voted that the subsection should be removed, while 35 voted that it should not be removed. They couldn't get 2/3rds majority.

Section 4b stands.


I wonder why Mark agreed to hold a second vote.


Some have said that the ambiguity in section 4b could lead to the legalisation of marriages of people under the age of 18. However, others argue that it won't because, according to the Child Rights Act, it is illegal to marry anyone below the age of 18. The marriage would be illegal at the time it is being contracted, while section 4b deals with a woman that is already married. But note that the Child Rights Act has only been domesticated in 24 states.

You schooled in the South-West and you stood out, what is the magic behind it?

I think then you needed to stand out on merit. People are not interested where you came from as long as they perceived you are the right person for anything. Let me give you another example.

When I applied to Unilag, I didn’t know anybody at Unilag, I took my result to the faculty and submitted my application and within four days I was admitted. I didn’t talk to anybody, I didn’t know anybody. That was the first time I came to Lagos in my life. I was admitted, I didn’t need to beg anybody, and they just looked at my result and admitted me and so many others. Frank Onward, who I met at Unilag on the first day, was from Rivers, he didn’t know anybody in Lagos.

Senator Effiong Bob was from Akwa Ibom, he didn’t know anybody in Lagos. The university admitted them on merit. They didn’t need to know any big man, they didn’t need to bring any letter, and they didn’t need to influence anything. When I came out for the student union election, I had a lot of people who supported me during my campaign. I also had people that had anxieties about me coming out, they said I was a bit radical and stuffs like that. They thought they were going to have problem with the student union. At the end of the day the election was done. I contested against two Yoruba chaps. One was forced to step down for the other. I still defeated the other one. Who are the people campaigning for me? A lot of them were Yoruba chaps, too.


There was nothing like tribalism, it was more of persuasion on issues. I wish Nigeria is a reflection of those days today. Even in electoral matters, you don’t need to vote for people because they are from your place or because they are from your region. You vote for people that will make your life better.

Celebrations as Godwin Obla becomes first Idoma SAN

There was wide jubilation across the Idoma nation during the weekend following the emergence of seasoned legal practitioner and EFCC lawyer, Godwin Obla as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, the first person to have attained such status in Idoma land.

Obla, alongside seventeen other Nigerian lawyers, including Ms. Olufunke Aboyade, an Editor at Thisday Newspaper, the Attorney General of Enugu State, Mr. Anthony Ikechukwu Ani,were on Friday appointed as Senior Advocates of Nigeria.



The Secretary to the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee, Mr Sunday Olorundahunsi who announced the names of the new SAN awardees, said they would be inaugurated at a latter date.

Others include; Adele Eberechi, Olumide Sofowora, Uko Udom, Suraj Sa’Eda, Anthony Anaenugwu, Joe Abrahams, Akinlolu Timothy Kehinde, Prof Lawrence Asekome Atsegbua, Biriyai Dmabo, Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume, Olalekan Fatai Yusuf, Moyosore Jubril Onigbanjo, Aliyu Maitasamu Abdullahi and Victoria Olufunmilayo Awomolo.

Prior to their emergence, they were among the 44 senior lawyers short-listed for interview for the award.

Marotzke: You may wish to restrict yourself to Yoruba or Acn comments . On Igbo names, when ever you see Ana , the person most probably is from Anambra state, as in Anthony Anaenugwu from Enugwukwu in Anambra state. Ani is predominant in Enugu state. Ikechukwu Ani , Attorney general Enugu state. Ala probably is from Imo or Abi state . Alagboso, Alajemba etc.

superior1: Senator sir, I think you need a psychiatry evaluation urgently.

You mean there is nothing wrong in declaring a married 13 year old baby wise enough to renounce her citizenship?? Ode!!!

27. (1) Subject to the provisions of section 28 of this Constitution, any person who is qualified in accordance with the provisions of this section may apply to the President for the same of a certificate of naturalisation.
(2) No person shall be qualified to apply for the grant of a certificate or naturalisation, unless he satisfies the President that -

(a) he is a person of full age and capacity;

(b) he is a person of good character;

(c) he has shown a clear intention of his desire to be domiciled in Nigeria;

(d) he is, in the opinion of the Governor of the State where he is or he proposes to be resident, acceptable to the local community in which he is to live permanently, and has been assimilated into the way of life of Nigerians in that part of the Federation;

(e) he is a person who has made or is capable of making useful contribution to the advancement; progress and well-being of Nigeria;

(f) he has taken the Oath of Allegiance prescribed in the Seventh Schedule to this Constitution; and

(g) he has, immediately preceding the date of his application, either-

(i) resided in Nigeria for a continuous period of fifteen years; or

(ii) resided in Nigeria continuously for a period of twelve months, and during the period of twenty years immediately preceding that period of twelve months has resided in Nigeria for periods amounting in the aggregate to not less than fifteen years

29. (1) Any citizen of Nigeria of full age who wishes to renounce his Nigerian citizenship shall make a declaration in the prescribed manner for the renunciation.

(2) The President shall cause the declaration made under subsection (1) of this section to be registered and upon such registration, the person who made the declaration shall cease to be a citizen of Nigeria.

(3) The President may withhold the registration of any declaration made under subsection (1) of this section if-
(a) the declaration is made during any war in which Nigeria is physically involved; or
(b) in his opinion, it is otherwise contrary to public policy.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section.

(a) "full age" means the age of eighteen years and above;

(b) any woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age.

7. (1) Subject to the provisions of section 28 of this Constitution, any person who is qualified in accordance with the provisions of this section may apply to the President for the same of a certificate of naturalisation.
(2) No person shall be qualified to apply for the grant of a certificate or naturalisation, unless he satisfies the President that -

(a) he is a person of full age and capacity;

(b) he is a person of good character;

(c) he has shown a clear intention of his desire to be domiciled in Nigeria;

(d) he is, in the opinion of the Governor of the State where he is or he proposes to be resident, acceptable to the local community in which he is to live permanently, and has been assimilated into the way of life of Nigerians in that part of the Federation;

(e) he is a person who has made or is capable of making useful contribution to the advancement; progress and well-being of Nigeria;

(f) he has taken the Oath of Allegiance prescribed in the Seventh Schedule to this Constitution; and

(g) he has, immediately preceding the date of his application, either-

(i) resided in Nigeria for a continuous period of fifteen years; or

(ii) resided in Nigeria continuously for a period of twelve months, and during the period of twenty years immediately preceding that period of twelve months has resided in Nigeria for periods amounting in the aggregate to not less than fifteen years.

The section up for amendment had to do with persons qualified to renounce Nigerian citizenship. The constitution in Section 29 says anyone of age can do so. Section 29(4) (b) says that ” any woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age.” It means that even a child if married can be seen to be of full age and as such can renounce citizenship. The committee proposed that that provision be deleted.

When it was put to vote, 2/3 of members present voted for it which meant it was deleted. But, not so fast.

Enter Senator Ahmed Yerima of Zamfara, the controversial former governor of Zamfara who tried to stoke religious sentiments. He said it was against Islamic law. Yerima got married to a teenager a few years ago, and going by the provision, the girl who is still not 18 cannot be said to be of age.

The section up for amendment had to do with persons qualified to renounce Nigerian citizenship. The constitution in Section 29 says anyone of age can do so. Section 29(4) (b) says that ” any woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age.” It means that even a child if married can be seen to be of full age and as such can renounce citizenship. The committee proposed that that provision be deleted.

Sissie: That is not the only way to stay within limits, and people don't always get sucked right back in.
It depends on our iman and determination, telling someone to cut off communications with someone he feels emotional connected too isn't always easy. It takes a personal commitment, fear of Allah and iman.

I have been there too.

Communications can be cut to normal within limits.
Except if they can't cope with it and stay within limits then they should cut off completely.