Wike: Court Gives Verdict On Commercial Sex Workers’ Suit Against FCT Minister Updated Saturday, March 15, 2025

 



FCT high court rules that prostitution constitutes an offence under the Penal Code Act. Photo credit: Nyesom Ezenwo Wike - CON, GSSRS 


Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court Abuja has given his judgement on the suit seeking to stop the arrest and prosecution of Commercial Sex Workers (CSWs) in Abuja The judge dismissed the suit filed against the minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, and the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) According to Justice Omotosho, prostitution constitutes an offence under Sections 405(2)(d) and 407 of the Penal Code Act.

Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 7 years of experience covering metro, government policy, and international events FCT, Abuja - The Federal High Court Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking to stop the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, from arresting and prosecuting Commercial Sex Workers (CSWs) in Abuja. The suit was filed against Wike and the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) by the Incorporated Trustee of Lawyers Alert Initiative for Protecting the Rights of Children, Women, and the Indigent. 

Justice James Omotosho ruled that the application of the plaintiff was incompetent under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009. As reported by Channels Television, Justice Omotosho dismissed the suit for lacking in merit. The court also held that the reliefs sought by the plaintiff were not grantable The group sued the AEPB, FCT Minister, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as 1st to 4th respondents respectively. According to the suit, the plaintiff prayed the court to determine whether the duties of the AEPB under Section 6 of the AEPB Act, 1997, extend to the harassment, arrest, detention, and prosecution of women suspected of engaging in sex work on the streets of Abuja. 

The lawyers prayed to the court for an order restraining the AEPB, its agents, or privies, from harassing, arresting, and raiding women suspected of engaging in sex work on the streets of Abuja.Delivering his judgement, Justice Omotosho ruled that: “These women whom the applicant is suing for are to use the proper word, ‘prostitutes’ and their profession is ‘prostitution.’ This court wonders if prostitution has become legal in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). “Under the Penal Code Act which is operational in the FCT, prostitutes are regarded as vagabonds under Section 405 (1) (d),” Citing Sections 405(2)(d) and 407 of the Act, the judge said: “The import of the above provisions is that prostitution constitutes an offence under the Penal Code Act. Justice Omotosho fixed March 12 to challenge the legal rights of the plaintiffs to arrest the sex workers.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

FG Invites Nigerians To Apply N50k for Their Business, Releases Link

  The federal government, through the SMEDAN, has launched a programme to support entrepreneurs The federal agency is inviting small business owners operating at the local government level to apply for a N50,000 grant The grant is aimed at boosting business sustainability, job creation, and local economic development.  The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has launched a conditional grant scheme for micro enterprises for strictly for small business owners. This government-backed scheme aims to provide conditional financial grants to nano businesses of up to N50,000.  Statement from SMEDAN shows that CGS for micro enterprises is specifically tailored to support small business owners operating at the local government level.  The statement reads: "This scheme was created to give grants to nano businesses for work force support and to ensure that they can procure equipment. "The Scheme is a government initiative designed for micro enterp...
Read more

Lady Close to Fish Magnet Details How He Was Reportedly Found almost Dead on Monday, Shares Chat

Image
A lady has recounted her last moments with the late entrepreneur, Ifesinachi Onyekere, popularly known as Fish Magnet, whose body was found by the roadside days after his abduction The lady, who seemed very close to the deceased, said he called her on the phone on Saturday, July 26, and they spoke until 9:00pm, only to find out he was kidnapped the following night She detailed how much Fish Magnet's kidnappers allegedly demanded and how the businessman was rushed to the hospital after he was found in critical condition on a Monday. A Nigerian lady, known on TikTok as @ms.mim2117, has mourned the tragic death of young Anambra fish seller, Ifesinach Onyekere, popularly known as Fish Magnet, by releasing a video of the good times they had together.  She detailed her last interaction with the deceased, who was found dead days after he was kidnapped from his residence.  Lady's last moment with Fish Magnet @ms.mim2117 stated that Fish Magnet called her on the phone on Saturday, July...
Read more

‘Salt Is Good’ Sermon: FG Counters Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, Tells Nigerians What to Do Read more:

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has warned Nigerians against excessive salt intake following controversial comments by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome Oyakhilome claimed in a viral video that limiting salt intake was a ploy to push sodium-based drugs, contradicting global health guidelines The Ministry reaffirmed the World Health Organization’s recommendation of a daily salt limit of 5 grams for adults, citing links to serious health issues.  Federal government through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has issued a public health advisory.  The ministry warned Nigerians against excessive consumption of salt following a viral video by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, founder of Loveworld Incorporated, popularly known as Christ Embassy. In the video, which has stirred widespread reactions on social media, Oyakhilome urged members of his congregation to increase their salt intake.  Oyakhilome claimed that Africans have been “deliberately discouraged” from co...
Read more