The Nigeria Police Force has defended the action of its men who broke up a gay wedding penultimate Saturday at the King’s Land Hotel in Jiwa Community, Abuja.
According to the spokesman of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, ASP Anjuguri Manzah, the men of the command acted on an intelligence report to prevent the suspects from breaking the law in respect to the Same-Sex Prohibition Act of 2013, Punch reports.
He said that the groom, Ibrahim Lawal, and bride, Umar Tahir, were presently cooling their feet in police custody, as well as other persons connected to the wedding.
“We also arrested the sponsors of the wedding and the owner of the hotel where the event was billed to hold,” Manzah said.
The suspects will be charged to court at the conclusion of investigations, the spokesman added.
The Same-Sex Prohibitions Act of 2013 states inter alia: “A marriage contract or civil union entered into between persons of same sex: (a) is prohibited in Nigeria; and (b) shall not be recognised as entitled to the benefits of a valid marriage.
“A person who enters into a same sex marriage contract or civil union commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 14 years imprisonment.”
The Federal Republic of Nigeria is one of 38 nations in Africa to have adopted a law prohibiting marriage between persons of the same sex.