The attention of ministry of interior has been drawn to news making rounds on the internet that says marriage conducted at Ikoyi registry is invalid.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the ministry as condemned reports making rounds that marriages condcted there are invalid.
This was a result of a judgement given by a Federal high court on Monday that certificate issued by Ikoyi marriage registry are worthless.
The judgement given by Justice D. E. Osiagor was quoted, declaring that it was unconstitutional for the Federal Government to conduct marriages.
Justice Osiagor was said to have held that only the local government marriage registries were empowered to conduct marriages by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He also reportedly ordered the closure, with immediate effect, of all federal marriage registries opened by the ministry, including that of Ikoyi.
While debunking the news in a statement made available to The PUNCH by the Permanent Secretary/Principal Registrar of Marriages, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, interior, He said, “It is further worthy of note that the issue of formation, annulment and other matrimonial causes are by virtue of Item 61 of the 1st Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria exclusively reserved for the Federal Government”.
“The General Public is invited to note that these judgments are all still subsisting, competent, and have not been appealed against till date.”
