The Ikoyi Marriage Registry is one of Nigeria's most popular locations for the solemnization of marriages, however, the Federal High Court in Lagos has ruled that it is no longer permitted to do so.
The Federal Government conducting weddings through the Ministry of Interior, according to Justice D.E. Osaigor, is unlawful.
This is because, under the 1999 Constitution (as modified), a legitimate marriage certificate may only be issued by the local government.
This has been a contentious subject for a long time. The Federal High Court in Suit No FHC/L/CS/1760/16 barred the Ministry of Interior from issuing marriage certificates since it lacks the authority to do so, but this hasn't stopped couples from utilizing federal registers.
The Federal High Court has finally put its foot down and decided whether or not the Ministry of Interior may conduct a marriage.
In Suit No FHC/ LS/CS/816/18, the Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State sued the Ministry of Interior and Attorney General of the Federation, alleging that the Ministry was usurping the Local Government's ability to perform weddings and issue certificates.
They requested the court to declare that the Federal Government cannot conduct weddings and to close all marriage registrations opened by the Ministry of Interior, including the well-known Ikoyi registry, in their pleadings.
All of their requests were approved by the court, indicating that only weddings performed by municipal governments are legal.
What is the status of weddings that have previously taken place at the Ministry of Interior's registries?
According to the law, if the prescribed procedure for marriage is not followed, the marriage is declared null and invalid, as if it never happened.
It is a well-known legal adage that ignorance of the law is no excuse.
Banky W, a popular Nigerian artist, has responded when a judge found Ikoyi Marriage Registry weddings to be unlawful and void.
According to sources, a court battle is raging between Nigeria's local governments and the federal government about who has the authority to maintain a marriage registry, conduct marriages, and issue marriage certificates.
However, the Federal High Court in Ikoyi recently granted the Eti Osa local government's prayers, stating that it is statutorily the job of local governments as provided by law, and that only local governments have the power to do so, and that the federal government's acts of operating marriage registries through the ministry of interior is clearly beyond their powers, rendering all marriages conducted by federal marriage registries invalid.
In response to the news, Banky, who married his actress wife, Adesua, at the Ikoyi registry in 2017, ridiculed his wife, referring to her as "Baby Mama."
