The Ikoyi marriage registry saga that has been trending for days has been causing panic in the hearts of many, especially married couples who conducted their marriages in Ikoyi marriage registry and other federal marriage registries as they are not sure if they are legally married or just cohabiting. I as the original author of the piece have gotten calls and mails from individuals and even media houses seeking clarifications on this issue.

It is in no doubt that media and news blogs that carried the news to their platforms did a very poor job by not quoting the exact words of the author and reporting the news in the way they feel will catch the attention of more readers and this has caused a lot of controversies and confusion to the general public. 

The office of the permanent secretary and principal registrar of marriages of the ministry of interior was swift in releasing a press statement debunking the news that the Ikoyi marriage registry and other federal marriage registries don’t have the statutory power to register marriages and issue marriage certificates.

To this effect, it will be in the interest of social justice and to clear the dust this issue have raised and also not to mislead the public that the author in good conscience will draw the attention of the public to what the law really do say and what is the reason for the decision (ratio decidendi) of the Federal High court Ikoyi judicial division regarding this issue:

The law that governs statutory marriages in Nigeria is the Marriage act and all marriages conducted under the marriage act and in consonance with this act is valid by the virtue of section 34 of the marriage act.

Be it as it may, any place can be a legal place for the conduct of marriage once they have obtained the necessary license from the federal ministry of interior and marriage conducted there will be held to be valid. So marriage conducted in Ikoyi marriage registry and other federal marriage registries are valid in this regard but the law is that the federal government through the federal marriage registries does not have the statutory power to register marriages and issue marriage certificates to married couples, when they do that, they are acting ultra vires. It is the LGAs in Nigeria that are statutory empowered to register marriages and issue married couples with marriage certificates.

To this effect, though Ikoyi marriage registry and other federal marriage registries have the power to conduct marriages once they have been licensed by the Minister of interior and any other place whatsoever, but the LGAs are the only entity empowered statutorily to register marriages and issue married couples with marriages certificates, therefore, whatever certificate issued to married couples by Ikoyi marriage registry and other federal marriage are void as they don’t have the power to do so.

While we all seat with open mind and see how this case between the Federal Ministry of Interior and Etiosa LGA will turn out as it will likely get to the Supreme Court, status quo may be maintained but prospective couples who intend to get married should be advised in due diligence to avoid federal marriage registries with the famous Ikoyi registry inclusive until the Supreme Court gives the final say.

If you need more clarifications or legal counseling/consultation on this issue or any other area of the law, the author’s line is widely open.

The illegality of the Ikoyi marriage registry: No cause for alarm yet (full press release)

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As such, Autochek Africa, the leading auto tech platform, has launched a dedicated brand new cars section on the Autochek website and mobile app. The goal is to help customers to access digital financing for brand new cars and trucks.

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Autochek is also working to widen the reach of the loan service through partnership with indigenous manufacturers such as Innoson Motors and Nord Motors. As part of the investment by Mobility54, Autochek has also partnered with CFAO (Toyota, Suzuki, Mitsubishi) across Africa to facilitate auto financing for all CFAO brands.

Autochek Africa’s COO, Timi Tope Ologunoye, said the idea was borne out of customer feedback. “We are excited to partner with financiers and the automotive industry to provide this facility. It is in response to customer feedback to democratize purchase of brand-new cars through great and affordable financing options. It is complemented by Autochek Africa’s residual value analysis tool that can guide financial partners on the condition of the vehicle over time,” he said.

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With shifting consumer demands, the Autochek platform is building on partnerships opportunities with automotive manufacturers and financiers, to innovatively provide a more agile, tech-led approach to deliver options. The company plans to extend its brand-new automobile portfolio through multiple carrier partners within the Autochek platform by the end of the year, with the goal of launching with over 300 new cars listed across all markets.

This post follows this one on the same topic.

The news of the illegality of the marriage conducted in the Ikoyi marriage registry and other federal marriage registries has been trending for days. For the record, the piece was first published on this platform with other news blogs carrying the news and most instances misquoted the original author  till it went viral like a wildfire and started causing panic in the hearts of many married couples.

It caught the attention of almost everyone, including celebrities and popular figures questioning the legality of their purported marriage they conducted in the Ikoyi registry, people became uncertain if they are legally and statutorily married to their spouse or they are just cohabitating and fornicating.

The author has been getting numerous mails and calls from readers for consultation and counseling with callers seeking what they should do next to make their marriage legal and statutory.

The office of the permanent secretary and principal registrar of marriages of the Ministry of Interior took a swift action on this matter and have released an official memo to this effect and openly rebuffing the news that the Court never did say that marriages conducted by Ikoyi marriage registry and other federal marriage registries are illegal and invalid (the full press statement is reproduced here).

To this effect, as we may think that this official memo from the office of the principal Registrar of marriages is politics as usual, purportedly married couples whose marriages were conducted at Ikoyi Marriage registry or other federal marriage registries should be at peace and take the official memo released by the office of the permanent secretary and Registrar of marriages for it and till the court takes the next line of action, maybe on appeal on this matter.

The best advice is for everyone to stay away from federal marriage registries for now till when the highest court (the Supreme Court) makes a pronouncement on this and it will always be better in your interest to consult a lawyer.

PRESS STATEMENT-Marriages

All Marriages conducted by the Ikoyi Marriage Registry are illegal and Invalid [updated]