The Federal Government has insisted that all marriage certificates issued at the Ikoyi Marriage Registry in Lagos State valid.
WuzupNigeria reported that a high court in the State had on Monday declared all the marriage certificates issued at the registry invalid, ruling that it was unconstitutional for the federal government to conduct marriages.
Citing the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Justice Osiagor posits that only the local government marriage registries were empowered to operate marriage registries, conduct marriages and issue certificates.
However, FG released a counter statement on Tuesday evening through the Federal Ministry of Interior’s Permanent Secretary/Principal Registrar of Marriages, Dr. Shuaib Belgore.
According to The PUNCH Belgore stated that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Interior has been authorised to conduct marriages, by virtue of Legal Notices issued pursuant to the Marriage Act and the ministry has existing court judgments as evidence.
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.”
