High court in Nigeria tosses lawsuit challenging anti-gay law

The Federal High Court of Nigeria has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act 2013, contending that the plaintiff did not have legal standing because he is straight and not harmed by the law.

Human rights activists said that the ruling, while disappointing, actually opens the door for a new legal action against the anti-gay law. Nigeria, one of the world’s most populous nations, is also one of the worst places on Earth for LGBT rights.

Teriah Joseph Ebah, 42, a straight Nigerian who has lived in the UK for more than a decade and has a wife and children, sued the Nigerian government after the strict anti-gay law was signed into law. Ebah and his attorney argued that the law is discriminatory and criminalizes all things gay and punishes ordinary people who do not report the gays.

Oh well, they tried. Hopefully, there’ll come forward a plaintiff (you, him, her and me) who has the appropriate legal standing to challenge the law.

Nigerian LGBT Reportedly Awaiting Court’s Decision On Anti Gay Law Repeal

This is according to Linda Ikeji. Can anyone tell me if this is fact? If it is, I’d like to express my admiration for this move.

Remember when I once updated on KD about the Nigerian gay activist, Michael Ighodaro, who who challenged President Jonathan during the US-Africa Leaders Summit about the Anti-Same-Sex Marriage Act. (Read HERE). Among other things he said, the president was reported to have remarked: ‘If you think the law is unconstitutional you have the right to go to court and fight [to strike] it down…’

Well, it looks like someone is fighting to strike the law down. Apparently, Nigerian LBGT filed a suit against the Federal Government stating that the anti-gay law is unconstitutional. Find the press release below.