Section 159 Child’s Right Act

Section 159 Child’s Right Act 2003 is about Attendance of parents, guardians or child at the hearing in the Court. It is under Part XIII (The Family Court) of the Act.

(1) In any proceedings in which the Court is hearing an application for an order under this Act, or is considering whether to make an order, the Court may order the parents, guardian or the child concerned to attend such stage or stages of the proceeding as may be specified in the order.

(2) The power conferred by subsection (1) of this section shall be exercised in accordance with the rules of the Court.

(3) Where an order made under subsection (1) of this section has not been complied with or the court has reasonable cause to believe that it will not be complied with, the Court may‐

(a) make an order authorising a police officer or such person, as may be specified in the order to‐
(i) take charge of the child and to bring him to the Court, and
(ii) enter and search any premises specified in the order if he has reasonable cause to believe that the child may be found on the premises; or
(b) order any person who is in a position to do so to bring the child to the court

(4) Where the Court has reason to believe that a person has information about the whereabouts of child, it may by order require the person to disclose such information to the Court.

(5) A person who refuses to comply with an order made under this section commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding fifteen thousand naira or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding eighteen months or to both such fine and imprisonment.