"Senator Yerima and Constitutional Review" - By Maryam Uwais

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Lawyer and child rights advocate Maryam Uwais weighs in on the child bride marriage: 

Once again, Senator Yerima is in the news, claiming Islam as the basis for his argument that a girl automatically transforms into an adult of ‘full age’ once she is married, with the attendant responsibilities that relate to the renunciation of citizenship, irrespective of her age or mental capacity. Because the Senator from Zamfara State has gone public with his personal comprehension of the Shari’a, it has become necessary to respond publicly to his utterances.

It should be pointed out, however, that several media reports on the constitutional review debate at the Senate give the impression that underage marriage has been endorsed by the Senate Chambers. Facts are that S.29 of the 1979 Constitution permits a Nigerian citizen of ‘full age’ to renounce his or her citizenship by declaration in a prescribed manner, for which purpose ‘full age’ was stated to be 18 years and above.

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BACKWARDNESS: See Senator Ahmed Yerima's Defense For Girl Child Marriage

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The former governor of Zamfara State has come under fire from several quarters for being the leading voice that's supporting early girlchild marriage, using religion as excuse. See his defense below:
Nigeria has many uncountable problems and do not require is early marriage. As a matter of fact early marriage is the solution to about half our problems.
"For folks who wonder if I will give my daughter(s) out in marriage at age 9 or 13, I tell you most honestly, I will give her out at age 6 if I want to and its not your business.
"This is because I'm a Muslim and I follow the example of the best of mankind, Muhammad ﺻَﻠَّﻰ ﺍﻟﻠَّﻪُ ﻋَﻠَﻴْﻪِ ﻭَﺳَﻠَّﻢَ .
"In Islam, marriage is not only about sex, it is about family and helping each other in achieving their goals, which will be the attainment of Paradise."Do you think it is right for a man to offer a girl below 18years his joystick rather a PEN?

Senator Ahmed Yerima Replies His Critics. Says nothing wrong in early marriage

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Serving senator and former governor of Zamfara State, Ahmed Sani Yerima, yesterday amplified his support for early marriage when he stated that he could give out his six-year-old daughter in marriage, if need be.

Yerima had on Tuesday successfully prevented an amendment to the second part of Section 22 of the constitution by the Senate, which dwells on affirming someone as of age once the person is married, though the person could be lower than 18 years in age.

Yerima, who came under attacks in 2011 for allegedly getting married to a 13-yearold girl, yesterday replied his critics who have been lampooning him for promoting marriage for the under-age.

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Police Detained Senator Yerima Over Comments On Radio

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The police on Saturday arrested former Governor of Zamfara, Sen. Sani Yerima over alleged “inciting’’ comments on a live radio programme run by Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Kaduna.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Olufemi Adenaike , led policemen in six hilux vehicles to surround the radio station and arrest the senator immediately after the Hausa programme, Hannu Da Yawa, at about 12:30 p.m.

Though Mr. Yerima was allowed to drive in his car to the state Police Command Headquarter, his car was sandwitched by the police vehicles.

Former Gov Of Zamfara State, Ahmed Yerima Arrested In Kaduna

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Former Governor of Zamfara State, Ahmed Yerima has been arrested by the Kaduna State Police Command.  Although details of the arrest are sketchy at the moment, LEADERSHIP gathered that Yerima was picked up following his responses in an interview on the FRCN Kaduna Hausa programme, Hanu Da Yauwa, where he reportedly made sensitive comments on politics in Nigeria generally.  A reliable source told LEADERSHIP that the action was taken following an order from Abuja,  He is currently being interrogated by the state Commissioner of police