Niger Assembly Passes Law Against ‘Marrying More Than 4 Wives’

 

— March 1, 2014

The Niger State House of Assembly has finally passed into  law a bill against marrying more than four wives.

The move may not be unconnected with the government’s desire to prosecute the popular octogenarian, Mohammed Saba, who has 86 wives.

The state legislature, yesterday codified the law through passage of the bill seeking the establishment of the Shari’a Penal Code for existing laws against rape and marrying more than four wives.

By the new law, anyone proven to have raped a woman in the state will bag a 21-year-jail-term, while any professed Muslim who marries more than four wives will be made to face the law.

The bill was passed following the adoption of the report of the House Committee on Judicial Matters presented by its chairman, Hon Isah Kawu (Bida 1 constituency).

While presenting his report, Isah stated that all major stakeholders should take advantage of the public hearing to make inputs into the new law.

Speaking after the passage of the bill, the Speaker, Barrister Adamu  Usman, lauded the committee for its commitment and dedication to ensuring that inputs were made by all stakeholders.

According to Usman, the bill is in conformity with Section 36 of the amended Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, though designed in line with Islamic injunctions.

Usman urged parents to always monitor the movement of their children, stressing that people should strive to report cases of rape to law enforcement agents in their localities for prompt action.