Marriages conducted at Federal Marriage Registries now invalid

On Tuesday, a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos ruled that it is unconstitutional for the federal government to conduct marriages, Top Naija reports.

The court presided over by Justice D. E. Osiagor, held that only the local government marriage registries are empowered to do such by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

He submitted that the conduct of marriages and issuance of certificates are statutorily the job of the local governments as provided by the law.

The judge added that the acts of the federal government through the Ministry of Interior, operating marriage registries is beyond their powers and held that all marriages conducted by federal marriage registries or through their agents are illegal and invalid.

He consequently ordered the closure of all federal marriage registries opened by the ministry, including that of Ikoyi marriage registry, with immediate effect.

There has been a legal battle between some local government areas in Nigeria against the federal government over who has the power to operate marriage registries, conduct marriages and issue marriage certificates.

The LGAs had insisted that their power to register marriages was being taken over by the federal government through the Ministry of Interior.

This prompted the Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State to go to court, where it sought an order to take over the popular Ikoyi Marriage Registry being operated by the Ministry of Interior, on the grounds that the federal government, through the ministry, had no business operating a marriage registry.

This new development has sparked different reactions amongst Nigerians. For instance, Nigerian artist, Banky W has reacted after a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos ruled that it is unconstitutional for the federal government to conduct marriages.

Based on the ruling, all weddings conducted at Federal Marriage Registries, including Ikoyi Registry, are “illegal and invalid”.

Banky W, who married Adesua Etomi 4 years ago in Ikoyi Registry, reacted on Twitter, jokingly telling Adesua she’s his baby mama, not his wife.

“So therefore @AdesuaEtomiW hey ‘baby mama’.” Banky wrote with several laughing face emoji.