High court bars Ikoyi Registry from conducting marriages
- A Lagos high court has banned Federal Registry, Ikoyi from conducting marriages
- Justice Chuka Austine Obiozor issued an order restraining the registry from conducting marriages
- Obiozor explained that it is not legal for the federal government to perform the duties of state and local governments
The Federal Registry, Ikoyi, will no longer be able to conduct marriage ceremonies or issue marriage certificates the High Court in Lagos has ruled.
Premium Times reports that Justice Chuka Austine Obiozor on Friday, May 18, issued an order restraining the registry from conducting marriages.
Obiozor said it was unconstitutional for the federal government to perform the duties of state and local governments.
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The judgement, delivered on Suit No: FHC/L/CS/1760/16 said marriage registries in the local government and local council development areas of Lagos State are the authentic and legally-binding government divisions established to carry out such functions.
The Lagos state commissioner for local government and community affairs, Muslim Folami is said to have earlier the judgement would be communicated to all stakeholders, including embassies.
Folami said the decision of the court is supreme and it is legally binding on all.
He added that all marriages conducted and registered in any of the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas are valid and in accordance with the Marriage Act.
According to him, the judgement will put a stop to the perception of superiority of Ikoyi Marriage Registry over the local government registries.
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He said: “We are going to use every available platform in the five divisions across the state to sensitise our people and inform them about this latest development; From Epe to Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja and Lagos Island.”
In his remarks, the president of the marriage registrars in all the local government and local council development areas, Deji Sokeye, said the responsibilities of the LGAs/LCDAs has come back to them by the virtue of the law and as provided for in section 30 (1) of the marriage act and section 7 (5) of the 1999 constitution.
He said the judgement would restore confidence in the certificates already issued and those that will be awarded in future by the registries.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that the state governor Akinwunmi Ambode swore-in Justice Sururat Soladoye; Justice Olukayode Ogunjobi and Justice Yetunde Pinheiro as high judges of the state's High Court.
Ambode urged the new appointees to handle their offices with every sense of professionalism and ethics.
The governor also appointed Folasade Fasehun as the new permanent secretary in the ministry of waterfront development.
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Source: Legit.ng
