A rights activist and philanthropist, Amb. Chika Uju, has totally condemned the 12 strokes of cane and jail sentence of an 18 year old girl for complaining on the social media about rape, poverty, terrorism and banditry in Sokoto State.
Uju, in a chat in Owerri on Monday, said that the punishment on the teen was evil and uncalled for, adding that the girl’s outspokeness was not out of place in a democratic setting as Nigeria where its constitution is superior to sharia law.
Uju, a journalist and founder of Uju Charity And Empowerment Initiative (UCEI), wondered whether it is an offence in the constitution of Nigeria that a citizen who civilly spoke against atrocities against her, her fellow girls and the society she belongs, is to be published.
She called on the Federal Government to quickly wade into the matter and allow justice to prevail in line with the constitution of Nigeria and human rights maxim.
“I totally condemn the recent sentencing and canning of an 18 year old girl in Sokoto for her online comments in condemnation of rape, poverty, terrorism and banditry in the State. Freedom of expression is a fundamental right. I urge authority to wade in and allow justice to prevail in line with the constitution of Nigeria which is superior to sharia law”, Uju said.
