They'll take legal action against a politician who married a 13-year-old Egyptian girl at Nigeria's national mosque, Nigerian women's groups have said.

The BBC reported on Wednesday that female members of the country's senate have promised to support a petition to reprimand Senator Ahmad Sani Yerima, 49.

The BBC also said that Sani married the girl at the mosque in Abuja several weeks ago.

It will investigate whether the marriage is legal, Nigeria's human rights commission has said.

Women's rights groups say Sani has broken the law, citing the Child Rights Act of 2003.

Mma Wokocha, the leader of the coalition protesting the marriage, said, "When you marry them out at this early stage, is it because it is viewed as a commodity that can be easily disposed of and a new one acquired."

The BBC also reported that the group wants an investigation into the child's identity, her age, the circumstances of her entry into Nigeria and the dowry paid to her family. (With Inputs from Agencies)