Nigeria legalizes prostitution?

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday made a profound ruling when it held that prostitution is not a crime under Nigerian law.

Relying on Section 37, Chapter 4, of the Constitution, Hon. Justice Binta Murtala Nyako delivered the judgment in a case filed by Lawyers Alert on behalf of one Constance Nkwocha &15 Ors V.  Min. of FCT & 5 Ors. The judge held that sex work is not a criminal offence in Nigeria, and that it is a violation  of Section 37 rights of a female sex worker for any security official to arrest her for having sex for commercial purpose.

To show the seriousness of the matter, the judge awarded damages against the Respondents and in favour of the Applicants in the sum of N1.6 Million.

To fully understand the meaning and implications of this judgment, DPA will obtain a copy of the judgment for a full study of it. DPA may appeal that judgment for the purpose of ultimately getting the Supreme Court of Nigeria to pronounce on the matter in order to give it the binding power over all courts in Nigeria and truly make it a part of the law of the land.