The Women Empowerment & Legal Aid (WELA) group, headed by human rights lawyer Funmi Falana, has protested Sofiyat Akinlabi’s arrest for accepting a marriage proposal from a corps member.
At the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Yikpata orientation camp in Kwara, Akinlabi and the corps member went viral for their lovey-dovey moments.
The soldier was detained for breaking the military’s rules of engagement, according to a statement released by the army on Sunday.
Falana, the group’s chairperson, claimed in a statement on Monday that Akinlabi did not break the army’s marriage policy for its members.
In the statement addressed to Faruk Yahaya, the chief of army staff (COAS), the human rights lawyer also called on the military to respect Akinlabi’s decision to accept the marriage proposal.
“Since Private Sofiyat Akinlabi was reported to have accepted the marriage proposal from a male youth corps member she has not contravened the regulation on restriction of marriage for three years,” it said.
Funmi, who is married to Femi Falana, a senior attorney of Nigeria (SAN), contended that the army’s stance on public displays of affection and marriage is discriminatory because male troops who indulge in similar behavior are not punished
Falana backed up her claim by citing a 2015 case between WELA and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), in which the federal high court ruled that applying such a policy to exclusively female cops was “unconstitutional.”
“The restriction of a female military personnel from contracting any marriage for three years upon enlistment which is not applicable to male military personnel is illegal and unconstitutional,” it added.
“In view of the fact that male soldiers have not been penalised for involving themselves in a public display of amorous relationship in full military uniform the threat to sanction Private Sofiyat Akinlabi is discriminatory. Some of the photographs of male soldiers involved in a public display of amorous relationship are attached.
“In view of the foregoing, we urge you to use your good offices to order the release of Private Sofiyat Akinlabie from further custody. Furthermore, her decision to marry the male youth corps member should be respected as both of them are entitled to freedom of association guaranteed by Section 40 of the constitution.”
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