Nigeria Probes Senator's Marriage to Girl, 13

He's accused of bedding minor after $100K dowry
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 29, 2010 1:41 AM CDT
Nigeria Probes Senator's Marriage to Girl, 13
Senator Eme Ufot Ekaette instituted Sharia law while governing the northern province of Zamfara.   (Wikimedia)

Nigerian lawmakers are accusing one of their colleagues of shaming the country by bringing a child bride back home from a trip to Egypt. Senator Eme Ufot Ekaette allegedly paid a $100,000 dowry to the parents of the 13-year-old girl, and married her in a ceremony at Nigeria's national mosque, the BBC reports. Human rights groups want the senator to face charges for endangering the child's health and violating Nigeria's marriage law, which forbids marrying anybody under 18.
(More child brides stories.)

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