The Federal High Court in Abuja dismisses a lawsuit filed by commercial sex workers, seeking recognition of their fundamental rights and protection from harassment and arrests by security agencies.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice James Omotosho ruled that prostitution is not a legally protected right under the Nigerian Constitution or any existing law. He further stated that sex workers could be arrested and prosecuted, as their activities violate the Penal Code, which prescribes a jail term of up to two years.
The plaintiffs had approached the court to prevent the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and the Abuja Environmental Protection Board from arresting or prosecuting them for engaging in commercial sex work. In this lawsuit brought to court, they also argued that prostitution should be recognised as a legitimate occupation under fundamental human rights laws.
However, Justice Omotosho ruled that their application was incompetent and that even if it had been properly filed, the reliefs sought were not grantable. As a result, dismisses the case for lack of merit.
The ruling reinforces existing laws that criminalise prostitution in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
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