The Ikoyi marriage registry saga that has been trending for days has been causing panic in the hearts of many, especially married couples who conducted their marriages in Ikoyi marriage registry and other federal marriage registries as they are not sure if they are legally married or just cohabiting. I as the original author of the piece have gotten calls and mails from individuals and even media houses seeking clarifications on this issue.
It is in no doubt that media and news blogs that carried the news to their platforms did a very poor job by not quoting the exact words of the author and reporting the news in the way they feel will catch the attention of more readers and this has caused a lot of controversies and confusion to the general public.
The office of the permanent secretary and principal registrar of marriages of the ministry of interior was swift in releasing a press statement debunking the news that the Ikoyi marriage registry and other federal marriage registries don’t have the statutory power to register marriages and issue marriage certificates.
Tekedia Mini-MBA edition 16 (Feb 10 – May 3, 2025) opens registrations; register today for early bird discounts.
Tekedia AI in Business Masterclass opens registrations here.
Join Tekedia Capital Syndicate and invest in Africa’s finest startups here.
To this effect, it will be in the interest of social justice and to clear the dust this issue have raised and also not to mislead the public that the author in good conscience will draw the attention of the public to what the law really do say and what is the reason for the decision (ratio decidendi) of the Federal High court Ikoyi judicial division regarding this issue:
The law that governs statutory marriages in Nigeria is the Marriage act and all marriages conducted under the marriage act and in consonance with this act is valid by the virtue of section 34 of the marriage act.
Be it as it may, any place can be a legal place for the conduct of marriage once they have obtained the necessary license from the federal ministry of interior and marriage conducted there will be held to be valid. So marriage conducted in Ikoyi marriage registry and other federal marriage registries are valid in this regard but the law is that the federal government through the federal marriage registries does not have the statutory power to register marriages and issue marriage certificates to married couples, when they do that, they are acting ultra vires. It is the LGAs in Nigeria that are statutory empowered to register marriages and issue married couples with marriage certificates.
To this effect, though Ikoyi marriage registry and other federal marriage registries have the power to conduct marriages once they have been licensed by the Minister of interior and any other place whatsoever, but the LGAs are the only entity empowered statutorily to register marriages and issue married couples with marriages certificates, therefore, whatever certificate issued to married couples by Ikoyi marriage registry and other federal marriage are void as they don’t have the power to do so.
While we all seat with open mind and see how this case between the Federal Ministry of Interior and Etiosa LGA will turn out as it will likely get to the Supreme Court, status quo may be maintained but prospective couples who intend to get married should be advised in due diligence to avoid federal marriage registries with the famous Ikoyi registry inclusive until the Supreme Court gives the final say.
If you need more clarifications or legal counseling/consultation on this issue or any other area of the law, the author’s line is widely open.
The illegality of the Ikoyi marriage registry: No cause for alarm yet (full press release)