TheCable

Sonnie Ekwowusi, onye ọka ikpe nkwado ikike mmadụ, kwuru na nwanyị iburu íbè yá afọ ime, nke bekee na-akpọ surrogacy, bụ omume iwu Naijiria megidere.

Ekwowusi kwuru nke a n’ụbọchị iri abụọ n’abụọ nke ọnwa April, na mkpakọrịta ótù ihe mme-mme akpọrọ The Morning Show n’ụlọ ihe mgbasa ozi Arise TV.

Onye ọka ikpe a kwụrụ na ọ bụ ihe iwu megidere na Naijiria ka nwanyị ọzọ búó ma muọrọ onye ọzọ nwa n’ihi na nwaanyị ahụ “n’ahanye akpa nwa ya” (womb renting) ma n’enyepukwa nwa ya. Ọ gara n’ihu kwuo na sorrogacy bụ nnukwu mmegide nyere ugwu nwanyị.

“Na mbụ, surrogacy megidere iwu ndụ na ịwụ ala Naịjiria, ụfọdụ mmadụ amaghị na sorrogacy megidere ịwụ Naijiria,” o kwuru.

“Surrogacy bụ ịgwakọta ákwá nwaanyị(egg) na ughe nwoke (sperm) ọnụ, ma tinye nya n’akpa afọ nwaanyị, a na-akpọkarị ya ịghanye akpa nwa nwaanyị (womb renting), ebe nke nwaanyị ga-ébú afọ ime ahụ ruo ọnwa itolu ma kunye onye nwe nwa ahụ nwa k’omuputachara ya.

“Ótù nwaanyị a, ga-aga n’ihu mere ya ọtụtụ ndị mmadụ, ọ ga-abịazi bụrụ ihe n’enweghị ugwu nke onwe ya.”

Ekwowusi guputara nkebi iri atọ nkewa nke mbụ nke ịwụ metụtara ụmụ aka bụ Child Right Act, ị ji kwado okwụ ya.

Nkebi atọ nke otu iwu ahụ guputara natara m’ahụhụ ńgá afọ iri nye onye ọbụla megidere nkebi nke mbụ nke ịwụ a.

“Onweghị onye ga-ázụ, ré, hanye, tụfuo, maọbụ nwe ikike ịbanye n’azụ m’ahia nke metụtara nwata ọbụla,” nkebi iwu a kwụrụ.

“Onye ọ bụla megidere nkebi nke mbụ nke ịwụ a mere njo nke ga-enweta ntara m’ahuhu ńgá afọ iri.”

Ọ guputakwara nkebi iri ise nke iwu ahụike bụ National Health Act nke megidere iji sayensị amụta nwa nke ndị bekee kpọrọ assisted reproductive technology.

“Mmadụ agaghị enwogharị mkpụrụ ndụ nke nketa (genetic material) nke gụnyere nke mmadụ, nwa n’eto n’afọ (embryo), maọbụ mee ihe ọbụla ga ekewa mkpụrụ ndụ mmadụ na ebum n’uche ịkepụta mmadụ ọzọ, zubata m’ọbụ bụpụ obodo ọzọ nwa kwesịrị ịtọ n’afọ,” nkebi ahụ kwuru.

“Onye ọbụla megidere ịwụ a nke nkebi a, mere njọ nke ntara m’ahuhu ya bụ nga afọ ise, n’enweghị nghọrọ ikwu ụgwọ ọ bụla.”

Surrogacy is Against National Law and Illegal in Nigeria – Ekwowusi

Surrogacy is simply womb renting, it is the greatest violation of a woman's dignity and section 30 of the Child Rights Act criminalizes surrogacy

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Sonnie Ekwowusi, Human Rights Lawyer pic.twitter.com/5qI0V6RKXm

— ARISE NEWS (@ARISEtv) April 22, 2024

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Ka ọ kwụsịrị ihe ndị a, ọtụtụ ndị Najiria ekwupụtala ọtụtụ uche óbì ha gbasara ihe ịwụ Naijiria kwuru maka surrogacy.

Surrogacy is Against National Law and Illegal in Nigeria – Ekwowusi

Surrogacy is simply womb renting, it is the greatest violation of a woman's dignity and section 30 of the Child Rights Act criminalizes surrogacy

Advertisement

Sonnie Ekwowusi, Human Rights Lawyer pic.twitter.com/5qI0V6RKXm

— ARISE NEWS (@ARISEtv) April 22, 2024

Exactly. My LLB thesis is on comprehensive review of the Child Rights Act. There is no provision in that law that in any way criminalises surrogacy.

— #TrustInTheLord(Proverbs 3:5) (@DieuEmeka) April 22, 2024

GỊ́NỊ BỤ̀ SURROGACY?

Surrogacy bụ usoro sayensị ọgbaraigbo gharị nke na-eme ka nwaanyị buoro mmadụ ọzọ afọ ịme.

Nwanyị a na-adị ime site n’usoro sayensị nke n’ejikọ ákwà nwaanyị(egg) na ughe nwoke (sperm) iji mepụta nwa(embryo), ma biazie tinye nya bụ nwa n’ime afọ nwaanyị ahụ nke kwetara ibu afọ ime ahụ site n’usoro akporo in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

Surrogacy dị ụzọ abụọ—mgbe eji ughe nwoke chọrọ nwa ahụ tinye n’ime akpa nwa nwaanyị kwetara ị buru ndị ahụ nwa ha ka ndị bekee na akpọ gestational surrogacy, ebe ụzọ ọzọ bụ igwakọ akwa nwaanyị chọrọ nwa ahụ na nke dị ya ọnụ n’ụlọ nyocha ma jiri ya gbanye n’ahụ nwaanyị ga-ebu nwa ahụ(traditional).

Surrogacy nwere ike ịbụ ụzọ esị akpata ego(commercial), maọbụ nke ịhụ ọma(altruistic).

Tupu nwanyị ọzọ e buoro onye ọzọ nwa, e nwere ọtụtụ akwụkwọ aga-abienyesi aka, dịka ana-eme mgbe ana-ekute nwa onye ọzọ akpọrọ adoption — nke onye ahụ ga-akwụ gọọmenti obodo ahụ ụgwọ akpọrọ legal fee.

GỊ́NỊ KÀ ÌWÚ NAIJIRIA KWÙRÙ MÀKÀ NWÁNYỊ̀ ÍBURU ÍBÈ YÁ ŃNWÁ?

N’ihi mgbagwoju anya nke usoro surrogacy, o mere k’oghara ị dị mfe ka ọtụtụ obodo nwe nkwubi okwu gbasara ya, K’osiladi Naijiria enweghị ịwụ ọbụla gbasara surrogacy.

N’afọ 2016, iwu ighazịgharị usoro ịjị teknụzụ sayensị e nyere nwaanyị aka ịtuta ịme na ịmụ nwa bụ (assited reproductive technology) bụ nke e wepụtara n’ihu ụlọ ome ịwụ ma rụọ taa, ekwupụtabeghi ya dịka iwu, k’osiladi Lagos gara n’ihu wepụta usoro metụtara otu aga-esi jì teknuzu sayensị na-amụ nwa (ART). Iwu dịka ọbịadebere sorrogacy nsó.

ART bụ ọgwụgwọ ọrịa atughi ime nke na-ewepụta akwa nwaanyị ma gwakọọ nya na ughe nwoke ọnụ n’ụlọ nyocha. Nke a ga-emecha tinye n’ahụ nwaanyị ga-ebu nwa ahụ ruo ọmụmụ.

N’agbanyeghị na-enweghị ndekọ ọnụ ọgụgụ ndị na-eme surrogacy na Naijiria, ụfọdụ akaebe n’egosi na ana-eme sorrogacy na Naijiria.

Nke a ahapụla anyị n’ajuju ma enweghị ịwụ gbasara surrogacy ọ pụtara na o megidere ịwụ Naijiria?

ÍNYÒCHÁ ÓKWÚ À

Inyocha okwu Ekwowusi, na ị mata ma surrogacy ọ bụ ihe iwu megidere na Naijiria, TheCable kpọtụrụ ọtụtụ ndị okaịkpe ịmata uche ha n’okwu a.

Henry Akanwa, onye ọkaịkpe, kwuru na mgbe aga-asị na surrogacy megidere ịwụ Naijiria bu mgbe akwụrụ nwaanyị ahụ ga-ebu nwa ahụ ugwo, mgbe ahụ a ga-asị n’ọbụ “ire nwa” nke ndị bekee kpọrọ child trafficking,” Akanwa kwuru.

“Sorrogacy abụghị ihe ọjọọ, e wezụga mgbe a kwụrụ nwaanyị ụgwọ ịmụru mmadụ nwa ma mechaa zụrụ nwa ahu, a ga-asị n’ọbụ ire nwa,” Akanwa kwuru.

Mgbe mmadụ n’alughi dị́ mụrụ nwa ma chọọ inyepụ̀ nwa ahụ, dị na nwaanyị nwere ịke ị́zụ́rụ́ nwa ahụ n’usoro ịwụ kwadoro bụ adoption. Isonye nke na usoro nwaanyị ịmuru onye ọzọ nwa, nwaanyị ahụ chọrọ ị nyepu nwa ya ndị bekee n’akpo sorrogate, na-ene nke a n’ihi na o nwere nwa ọ chọrọ inyepu.

Olu Daramola, onye oka ikpe ọkwa ya gbagotere bụ sịniọr advocate nke Naijiria, kwụrụ na sorrogacy emegideghi ịwụ Naijiria n’ihi na onweghị iwu ọbụla e nwere maka ya.

O kwuru na naanị ihe iwu megidere bụ ihe bụ ihe ọjọọ.

“Ọ nweghị ịwụ n’akwado sorrogacy na Naijiria. Enwere ihe dị iche ị sị na ị́hé bụ ihe ọjọọ na ihe n’enweghị ịwụ ọbụla. Ugbu a, onyeghị ịwụ enwere maka surrogacy na Naijiria,” Daramola gwara TheCable.

“Nke ahụ dị iche(ọ n’ekwu maka iwu megidere ire ụmụaka), ọ bụrụ n’ịgu ọ iwu ụmụaka bụ Child Right Act, ị ga-ahụ n’emeputara ya ịchekwa ụmụaka a mụrụ, surrogacy abụghị ikute nwa, ka ọbụ usoro mmadụ jị amutara onye n’enweghị ike ịmụ nwa ọbụla nwa.

Daramola kwuru na iji kwụsị oké mgbagwoju anya na ihe gbasara mmadụ ịmuru onye ọzọ nwa, gọọmenti kwesiri tinye ọnụ na nya bụ okwụ.

“E chere m na ụzọ ịga n’ihu na nya bụ okwu bụ ka gọọmenti kweta na onwere ihe dị ótú a, ma wepụta ịwụ ga enyocha usoro ịme nya, maka na e mere iwu maka mmadụ n’abughi n’ụzọ nke ọzọ. Iwu kwesịrị ka ọ nabata nrụpụta ọgbaraọhụrụ. Ihe mejupụtara ihe ọjọọ bụ ihe iwu megidere kpom kwem,” ọ gbakwunyere.

Itinyekwa ọnụ na nya bụ okwu, Olutumbi Babayomi, onye okaipe ezinụlọ, kwuru na agaghị asị na mmadụ megidere “ịwụ na anọghị”.

“Ruo taa, anyị enweghị ịwụ ọbụla gbasara surrogacy, ọbụrụ na-ejide onye ọ bụla agaghị asị n’o megidere ịwụ na adịghị,” Babayomi kwụrụ.

“Ótù nsogbu anyị nwere na Naịjiria abụghị ime ịwụ, kama ọbụ ime ka ndị mmadụ rubere nya bụ iwu Ị́sị́. Tupu asị na ihe bụ ihe ọjọọ, ihe ahụ ga-emegide ịwụ, mana nke a, o nweghị ịwụ ọ bụla n’emegide sorrogacy.”

Babayomi gbakwunyere na ịme ka nwaanyị ọzọ muọrọ onye ọzọ nwa bụrụ ihe iwu kwadoro na Niajira ga-abụ nke ga-abịa n’akaghị aka ugbua, n’ihi ọtụtụ nsogbu gbara ya okịrịkịrị.

O kwuru na ọ bụrụ na-ikpe surrogacy rụọ ụlọ ịkpe na-agaghi ekpe ya dị ka surrogacy, kama ọ ga-abu ikpe ịzụ n’ire nwa.

“Ọbụrụ n’ekpe ya n’ụlọ ịkpe, agaghị ekpe ya dịka ikpe metụtara nwaanyị ịmuru onye ọzọ nwa, kama ọ ga-abụ ikpe n’okpuru iwu ụmụaka bụ Child Right Act. Nya mere ikpe dị otú a ga-abu ikpe ịzụ n’ire nwa n’ụzọ n’ezighi ezị,” ọ gbakwunyere.

“N’ihi na a kwụrụ nwaanyị ahu ụgwọ ịmu nwa ahụ, ọ dabanyere n’ikpe megidere izu n’ire nwa. Maka ọtụtụ nsogbu só sorrogacy, echere m n’ọga bụ nchepụta n’akaghi áká ịweputa iwu n’akwado sorrogacy na Naijiria ugbu a.”

Awa Kalu, onye okaịkpe ọzọ ọkwa ya gbagotere bụ sịniọr advocate nke Naijiria, kwetara na enwere ohere dị na iwu gbasara surrogacy na Naijiria.

O kwuru na iwu ụmụaka na iwu ahụike bụ Child Right Act na National Health Act — nke Ekwowusi guputara enweghị nke megidere nwaanyị ịmuru onye ọzọ nwa.

“Ka iwu ahụike bụ National Health Act megidere inwoghari nwa dị n’afọ nke a kpọrọ embryo, ọ dị mkpa ị mata ndị ịche dị n’etiti inwoghari nwa dị n’afọ maka ihe n’ezighi ezị na usoro ịji sayensị teknuzu nyere nwaanyị aka ịmụta nwa. Ịwụ anyị n’ekwu maka inwoghari nwa nọ n’afọ maka ime ihe n’ezighi ezị karịa nwaanyị ọzọ inyere mmadụ ozo aka ịmụ nwa,” Kalu kwuru.

“Ihe ejiri mepụta iwu ahụike bụ National Health Act bụ ka enwe ịwụ gbasara ụlọ ahụ ike Naịjiria. Ịwụ kwere nkwa ịnye ahụike zụrụ-ezu ma dị ọnụ àlà nye ndị niile bị na Naijiria. Dịka m tụgharịrị uche na nya bụ ịwụ, onweghi mgbe o jiri megide mwaayi ị mụrụ mmadụ ọzọ nwa.

N’otu aka ahụ, iwu ụmụaka bụ Child Right Act megidere ịzụ na ị́rè nwa. Mana iwu a kowara nwata dịka onye n’erubeghi afọ iri na asaatọ (18 years), n’ihi nke a, o metutaghi nwa ebu n’afọ. Dịka iwu ndị mere ihe ọjọọ akpọrọ Criminal Code kwuru, nwata bụ onye amuputagoro n’afọ nne ya. Nya mere iwu a agaghị emetụta nwa nọ n’afọ nke mejupụtara usoro surrogacy.

ŃCHỊ́KỌ́TÁ

Enweghị ịwụ ọbụla maka surrogacy na Naijiria, ịwụ ahụike na ịwụ ụmụaka bụ National Health Act na Child Right Act enweghị nke megidere nwaanyị ịmuru mmadụ ọzọ nwa.