All Marriages Conducted at Ikoyi Registry Illegal, Invalid

A Federal High Court in Lagos, has ruled that the marriage certificates issued by the Ikoyi Marriage Registry are worthless and illegal.

In a ruling on Monday, Justice D. E. Osiagor declared that it was unconstitutional for the federal government to conduct marriages.

He said the marriages so conducted are illegal and invalid.

Justice Osiaagor held that only the local government marriage registries are empowered to conduct marriages by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

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

The ruling was delivered in the case filed by Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State.

The council sought the court 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.

The Ministry of Interior and Attorney General of the Federation were listed defendants.

The latest judgment was the second on the issue.

On May 17, 2018, Justice Chuka Austine Obiozor also issued a restraining order against Ikoyi registry from conducting marriages.

December 14, 2021