The Federal Government had alleged, through the UBEC, that "the Court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the action filed by SERAP on the grounds that the Compulsory and Basic Education Act 2004 and the Child's Rights Act 2004 are Municipal Laws of Nigeria and not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court because it is not a treaty of ECOWAS; that the educational objective of Nigeria under the 1999 Constitution is non_ justiciable or enforceable; and that SERAP has no locus standi to institute or maintain the action."
Alisema kunamaeneokadhaakatikaSheriayaMtotoambayo yanasimamiwanamamlakanyingine.Pamojana ukweli huo,badoMahakamaya Watotoinawezakutoa ushirikianokwamamlakahizoauamrizamahakamazikasaidiautendajiwa mamlaka hizo, kwa mfano; mazingira mbalimbali ambayo yameainishwa na SheriaNamba 21 ya 2009 kuwa ni hatarishi kwa mtoto kama vile uyatima, kutelekezwa, kuteswa, kuzurura, kukinzanana sheria ambapo alisema Mahakama ya Watoto inaweza kutoa tafsiri nakupanua wigo wa “mazingira hatarishi”.