Benue State University, Makurdi

A Cursory Glance at the Rights and Status of an Illegitimate Child Vis-À-Vis the Effect of Section 42(2) of The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as Amended

Egondu Grace Ikeatu* and Alex Iloba Uwadinma**

Abstract

The concepts of legitimacy and illegitimacy are important as they determine the rights and status of a child in relation to the society and what he/she is entitled to. It considers children that are tagged illegitimate, the resultant social discrimination and ways of legitimizing them. The issue of legitimacy and illegitimacy alongside inheritance albeit sensitive issues, are issues that are of great concern in our laws and ones that need to be addressed firmly to prevent discrimination of any kind. The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Section 42(2) has tried to resolve the issue of discrimination, but it has been asserted that the words of that provision is not only not firm but also not completely inclusive. These issues are that which this paper seeks to address and throw more light on.

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