The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has justified the disruption of a gay wedding last Saturday at a hotel in Jiwa Community of Abuja, King’s Land Hotel.
by Punch Newspaper Feb 15, 2016
The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has justified the disruption of a gay wedding last Saturday at a hotel in Jiwa Community of Abuja, King’s Land Hotel.
The FCT Police Command spokesperson, Assistant Superintendent of Police Anjuguri Manzah, said the command received an intelligence report and swiftly moved to the venue of the event to stop the marriage from holding.
He said, “We acted based on the provisions of the Same-Sex Prohibition Act signed into law in 2013.
“We received an intelligence report and acted fast by moving to the venue of the event to stop it.”
Manzah, who gave the names of the couple as Ibrahim Lawal (husband) and Umar Tahir (wife), added that the men were both from Kaduna State.
He said the police were investigating the case and would charge the coupleand other persons involved in the ceremony to court.
Apart from the couple, Manzah said the police also arrested some other persons connected to the ceremony.
He said, “We also arrested the sponsors of the wedding and the owner of the hotel where the event was billed to hold.”
In 2013, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan signed into law the Same-Sex Prohibition Act.
Parts of the Act read, “A marriage contract or civil union entered into between persons of same sex: (a) is prohibited in Nigeria; and (b) shall not be recognised as entitled to the benefits of a valid marriage.
“A person who enters into a same sex marriage contract or civil union commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 14 years imprisonment.”
Nigeria is among 38 African countries which outlaw same-sex marriage. (Punch)
