BEVERLY HILLS, February 29, (THEWILL) – The Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Jummai Al-Hassan has disclosed that her ministry is currently on the case of the alleged abduction of 14-year old Ese Oruru from her home in Bayelsa State by one Yinusa, alias Yellow, who purportedly converted her to Islam and forced her into marriage.
The Minister, who spoke up on the issue that has elicited outrage from some Nigerians, posted on her Twitter handle @JummaiAlhassan on Monday that she had been looking into the matter ever since it got to her notice and that her ministry will fully prosecute anyone found to have contravened the law.
Her tweets read: “The case of Ese Oruru as reported by Punch newspapers was brought to my attention yesterday and I have been looking into it since. #FreeEse
“My ministry is on this case and we will ensure full prosecution of anyone who is found to have contravened the law. #FreeEse”
It would be recalled that Yinusa, a tricycle rider, was alleged to have eloped with the minor to Kano on August 12, 2015, from her mother’s shop in Opolo Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State and has since then refused to return her to her family.
Nigerians have involved themselves in the demand for her release with a hash tag #Freeeseoruru currently trending on Twitter. Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State governor, Hon Seriake Dickson has already promised to interface with his Kano State counterpart, Abdullahi Ganduje, as a means of seeing to the release and return of the 14-year-old.
Al-Hassan tweets further: “Child Rights Act says no person under 18 is capable of contracting a valid marriage, and a marriage so contracted is null and void #FreeEse
“The Act also clearly states that anyone who marries a child is liable to to a fine of N500,000 or 5 years imprisonment or both. #FreeEse
“No culture, religion or personal conviction supersedes the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Ese Oruru must return home. #FreeEse
“Ese’s case has brought to the fore the need to protect the rights of children and women in our society and we wont relent #FreeEse
“Ese is still a child under our laws, and her right to freedom of movement is subject to parental control. She must be returned. #FreeEse
“I can assure you that I will use all my powers and influence as a Minister and woman to secure the release and return of Ese Oruru #FreeEse
“I have been in touch with the police authorities in Kano over Ese’s immediate release to her parents and we are making progess. #FreeEse
“Our laws are very clear on the case, Ese Oruru is 14 and as such cannot consent to marriage. Any such union she’s in is illegal. #FreeEse”
