Justice D.E Osiagor of the federal high court in Ikoyi, Lagos State, has declared marriages conducted by federal registries as illegal.

The Eti Osa local government area of Lagos state had taken the Ministry of Interior and Attorney General of the Federation to court in suit number FHC/ LS/CS/816/18.

The suit between Eti-Osa local government and three others against the Hon. Minister of Interior; Federal High Court; Ikoyi Judicial Division, accused the Federal Ministry of Interiors of usurping the local government’s power to operate marriage registries, conduct marriages and issue marriage certificates.

They prayed the court to declare that the federal government have no business in the conduction of marriages and issuing marriage certificates and order the closure of all marriage registries opened and operated by the federal ministry of interior or through their agents including that of the Ikoyi registry.

The court held in the favor of the Eti Osa local government and granted their prayers.

The court held that the conduct of marriages and issue of certificates is statutorily the job of the local governments as provided by the law and only the local governments have the power to do such.

The court also ruled that the acts of the federal government through the ministry of interior operating marriage registries is clearly beyond their powers.

The court further held that all marriages conducted by federal marriage registries or through their agents are illegal and invalid. The federal high court also ordered for the closure of all federal marriage registries including that of the Ikoyi marriage registry with immediate effect.

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