First, you should confirm the pregnancy and have an honest conversation with her about the situation. If there is any doubt about the pregnancy, she can take a pregnancy test and, where necessary, see a medical professional for proper confirmation.
If you believe the pregnancy is yours and you want to keep the child, calmly explain your position to her. Let her know that you are prepared to take responsibility for the pregnancy and the child, rather than simply asking her to continue the pregnancy without offering any support.
You may also discuss your willingness to marry her if that is genuinely what you want and you are certain that the relationship is suitable for marriage. However, do not make promises simply to persuade her to change her decision.
Step-by-Step Procedure to Resolve This Legal Matter:
- Preserve Contemporaneous Evidence: Collate physical receipts, verified bank timestamps, stamped letters, and electronic communication logs prior to formal intervention.
- Deliver Statutory Pre-Action Notice: Issue a formal written demand outlining the specific statutory breach and giving the opposing party statutory time to remedy the grievance.
- Engage Accredited Legal Counsel: Initiate judicial proceedings before the competent court of record or submit an official petition to the relevant regulatory commission.
Any assurance you give should be something you are genuinely prepared to honour.
Key Evidential Considerations & Statutory Benchmarks:
- Documented statutory breach and verified timeline of events.
- Jurisdictional competence of the regulatory agency or superior court.
- Contemporaneous written correspondences, notices, and financial records.
- Quantifiable proof of pecuniary loss or civil rights violation.
“The rule of law ensures that statutory rights and duties cannot be compromised by informal arrangements or administrative fiat; every citizen has the constitutional right to due process.”
— Nigerian Legal Precedent & Constitutional Jurisprudence
It is also important to understand that you should not threaten, intimidate, force, or physically restrain her. Telling her that you will call the police if she does not do what you want is not an appropriate way to resolve the matter.
Nigerian law places restrictions on abortion, but the exact legal position depends on the circumstances and the law applicable in the particular part of Nigeria. The Criminal Code and Penal Code contain provisions concerning unlawful termination of pregnancy, while certain circumstances, including situations involving saving the life of the pregnant woman, are treated differently.
Therefore, it is not correct to simply tell someone that every abortion automatically carries a 14-year prison sentence.
For direct regulatory verification, official complaints, or accessing statutory registers without third-party fees, members of the public can consult the official portal of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
If you strongly believe that an unlawful act is about to take place, the appropriate step is to speak to a qualified Nigerian lawyer who can consider the specific facts and advise you on your legal rights and options.
For deeper procedural insights and related Nigerian statutory principles, see our legal analyses below:
Most importantly, approach the matter calmly. If your concern is that you do not want to lose a pregnancy that you believe is your child, focus first on communication, responsibility, medical advice, and proper legal guidance rather than threats or confrontation.
This breakdown is spot on. Under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the legal position on I am 37 years old, unmarried, and have no children. My current girlfriend is pregnant and wants to have an abortion, but I want to stop her. What can I do? is quite settled. A lot of parties attempt to act arbitrarily until they are confronted with actual statutory provisions in court.
Kudos to the LawTalks editorial team. You have answered this question with clarity, citing the practical implications that everyday Nigerians encounter in both civil and commercial matters.
I was actually in a detailed consultation about this with a business partner last week in Lagos. Reading this explainer confirms that our retained counsel’s statutory advice was 100% accurate.
What specific documentation or contemporaneous evidence is most critical for a claimant or petitioner to assemble before instituting an action regarding I am 37 years old, unmarried, and have no children. My current girlfriend is pregnant and wants to have an abortion, but I want to stop her. What can I do? in a Nigerian court?
Thank you for your inquiry. In addition to primary contractual or statutory agreements, ensuring that all correspondence between the parties is dated and acknowledged is vital. Under the rules of superior courts in Nigeria, failure to frontload critical documentary exhibits with the Statement of Claim can result in evidence being excluded at trial. Pre-action dispute protocols (such as arbitration clauses or mediation) should also be exhausted where mandatory.
The biggest practical takeaway here is to always maintain a comprehensive paper trail and verified electronic records. Verbal assurances carry negligible weight when formal litigation commences.
To add further context to this discussion, parties litigating I am 37 years old, unmarried, and have no children. My current girlfriend is pregnant and wants to have an abortion, but I want to stop her. What can I do? should note that Nigerian courts heavily scrutinize whether administrative dispute resolution mechanisms were exhausted before approaching the bench.
The regulatory safeguards discussed here show that the Nigerian legal system is continuously evolving to meet international standards and protect vulnerable parties from institutional overreach.
A senior colleague at our law chamber recently handled a contentious brief involving I am 37 years old, unmarried, and have no children. My current girlfriend is pregnant and wants to have an abortion, but I want to stop her. What can I do?. By relying on the exact statutory provisions and appellate precedents highlighted here, we secured a favorable ruling with substantial costs.
For legal practitioners and litigants, what is the required standard of proof when establishing bad faith or procedural impropriety regarding I am 37 years old, unmarried, and have no children. My current girlfriend is pregnant and wants to have an abortion, but I want to stop her. What can I do? under Nigerian rules of evidence?
Thank you for following our legal publications. On the burden of proof, the Court of Appeal has established in numerous decisions that statutory penalties cannot be imposed arbitrarily without granting the affected party an opportunity to be heard. Where bad faith or denial of due process is pleaded with specificity and backed by documentary proof, Nigerian courts will not hesitate to nullify such administrative sanctions ab initio.
This is easily one of the most thorough and practical treatises on I am 37 years old, unmarried, and have no children. My current girlfriend is pregnant and wants to have an abortion, but I want to stop her. What can I do? available online in Nigeria. A must-read for every citizen, corporate director, and legal researcher.