20100730
allafrica

Abuja — The International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) has directed the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to furnish it with information on Senator Ahmed Yerima's alleged marriage to a minor.

A statement by the commission's Assistant Director of Public Affairs and Communications, Mr. Lambert Oparah, stated that INTERPOL made the request in a letter signed by its General Counsel, Joel Sollier and addressed to the commission's Executive Secretary, Mr. Roland Ewubare.

It said, "INTERPOL posited that its General Secretariat has carefully considered the child rights issues raised in the matter by the National Human Rights Commission, especially the worldwide pedophile alert raised in respect of the matter. It stated that the issue has been transmitted to competent Police Directorate within the General Secretariat for appropriate follow-up."

Yerima is accused of marrying a 13-year-old Egyptian girl contrary to Sections 21, 22 and 23 of the Child Rights Act 2003.

He has been quizzed severally by officials of National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP).

The Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria has sued the NHRC, NAPTIP, Senate President David Mark and Speaker Dimeji Bankole to court over the issue.

It accused the agencies of acting outside their limits by interfering in a matter that was absolutely a religious and private affair of Yerima, whom the council said was their member.

According to Oparah, INTERPOL was pleased that the commission brought the matter to its attention.