Fight Against FGM, SGBV : Barrister Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye co-opts Attorney General, IGP, UN-Women, UNICEF, African Lawyers Association, others

,To establish mobile courts to try perpetrators

CHIDIMMA UCHEGBU- Abuja

The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Barrister Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye has promised  hard times for those still perpetrating the scourge of female genital mutilation (FGM) and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) under which Nigerian women and girls are subjugated,

Barrister Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye who was sworn-in as the new Honourable Minister of Women affairs on Monday, 21st August, 2023 sought a renewed invigorative war against FGM and SGBV, co-opting the Attorney-General of the Federation and Honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi; the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun; the UN-Women; UNICEF; African Women Lawyers (AWLA) and other relevant organizations in the renewed war on the scourge of Nigerian women.

The women affairs minister’s strategy, she disclosed was to establish a mobile court empanelled to speedily try suspects involved in the heinous crimes against Nigerian women and girl-children so as to create conducive atmosphere for them to thrive in their motherland.

Barrister Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye also stated that most of these crimes against women and girls are perpetrated in the remote areas of Nigeria where earlier advocacies and campaigns against were not reaching.  “This time around, we will deploy town criers whom we will video-recorded to take our messages and warnings home to potential perpetrators”, she remarked.  She added that the people still practise the disgusting and reproachful acts because there has been no deterrence hence, we will empanel mobile courts and then let see, what can happen afterwards.”

The Honourable Minister also disclosed her plans to secure the buy-in and the commitment of the Governors where cases of FGM is rampant.  “We will not just set up the mobile court but as well, but we will want our Governors, the traditional and other elites to work with us; especially on deterring child marriage.  The girls need to get education and be able to make informed choices; we will be speaking to the mothers! Let’s make sure of the implementation; we have been having policies; we need to act urgently.  Everyday we waste means more children suffer.  I will meet with the Governors at their very next meeting. We can’t afford more time wasting.  What are the delays for?” she queried.

The Honourable Minister charged the UNICEF to stand on the same page with her Ministry to end the suffering of a good number of Nigerian children who suffered the scourge of FGM, and child marriage.