In a ruling on Monday, Justice D. E. Osiagor declared that
it was unconstitutional for the federal government to conduct marriages.
He said the marriages so conducted are illegal and invalid.
Justice Osiaagor held that only the local government
marriage registries are empowered to conduct marriages by the provisions of the
1999 Constitution (as amended).
He consequently ordered the closure, with immediate effect,
of all federal marriage registries opened by the ministry, including that of
Ikoyi.
The ruling was delivered in the case filed by Eti-Osa Local
Government Area of Lagos State.
The council sought the court order to take over the popular
Ikoyi Marriage Registry being operated by the Ministry of Interior, on the
grounds that the federal government, through the ministry, had no business operating
a marriage registry.
The Ministry of Interior and Attorney General of the
Federation were listed defendants.
The latest judgment was the second on the issue.
On May 17, 2018, Justice Chuka Austine Obiozor also issued a
restraining order against Ikoyi registry from conducting marriages.