High Court bars Ikoyi Registry from conducting marriages

A Lagos high court has ruled that marriages conducted by the Federal Registry, Ikoyi, Lagos are not legally binding.

Justice Chuka Austine Obiozor issued an order restraining the registry from conducting marriages, Vanguard reported Friday.

He said it was unconstitutional for the federal government to perform the duties of state and local governments.

The judgement, delivered on Suit No: FHC/L/CS/1760/16 said marriage registries in the local government and local council development areas of Lagos State are the authentic and legally-binding government divisions established to carry out such functions.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, the Lagos State Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Muslim Folami, said the judgement would be communicated to all stakeholders, including embassies.

He said the decision of the court is supreme and it is legally binding on all.

He added that all marriages conducted and registered in any of the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas are valid and in accordance with the Marriage Act.

According to him, the judgement will put a stop to the perception of superiority of Ikoyi Marriage Registry over the local government registries.

“We are going to use every available platform in the five divisions across the state to sensitise our people and inform them about this latest development; From Epe to Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja and Lagos Island,” he said.

In his remarks, the president of the marriage registrars in all the local government and local council development areas, Deji Sokeye, said the responsibilities of the LGAs/LCDAs has come back to them by the virtue of the law and as provided for in section 30 (1) of the marriage act and section 7 (5) of the 1999 constitution.

He said the judgement would restore confidence in the certificates already issued and those that will be awarded in future by the registries.