Abuja, Nigeria: Harlots brief lawyers to defend trade

The Federal Capital Territory administration is considering sending a Bill to the National Assembly in a renewed bid to outlaw prostitution in the territory.
Authorities are worried about the poor image of the administration occasioned by the activities of women of easy virtue.
The Bala Mohammed-led administration had set up an anti-prostitution task force headed by the Secretary of the FCT Social Development Secretariat, Mrs Blessing Onuh, to tackle the problem.
But in spite of sundry arrests of prostitutes at night by the task force and the establishment of a rehabilitation centre for them, the women have remained undaunted in their determination to ply the trade known to be the oldest profession in the world.

The infrastructure news checks have shown that the women had formed a strong union and hired lawyers to defend their constitutional right to continue to ply their trade.
A source close to the association said constant harassment of their members by FCT  authorities was an infringement on their fundamental human rights.
“As it is today, there is no law banning the trade in Nigeria. Beyond that, chasing them every night is an infringement on their rights. How do you even know a prostitute? You see people walking down the street; you pick them up and say they are prostitutes. People have freedom of movement. You don’t deny people this all important right. By the way what happens to the men who patronise them? Have you thought about that?” a source close to the group queried.
From the FCT authorities, a law against prostitution has become imperative. There is the need for a strong law against prostitution.
“Do you know that we are in many courts with these people, prostitutes, they have hired very senior lawyers and that is a serious headache for us. Do you know that they have foreign funding for their association? We need a strong law to contain this menace”, a senior member of the administration said.
There have been reports of abuses on the part of the operatives of the task force and their reported collusion with cab drivers.
The operatives are alleged to be in the habit of picking up the women at night and giving them three options: pay a fee of N10, 000, settle for free all night sex or be sent to the rehabilitation camp where they would not be allowed to leave until the period of reformation is completed.
The women usually settle for free all night sex.
Taxi drivers are also alleged to be working with the operatives where they pick up girls from different locations and drive them straight to the task force irrespective of whether they are prostitutes or not.
The cab drivers end up receiving N7, 000 a night for such jobs.