Dr. Ajah Ogbu, director of research, National Judicial Institute, has said that all marriages contracted before 10:00 a.m. and after 4:00 p.m. are illegal in line with the provision of section 34 of the Marriage Act.
Ogbu also said there are two basic forms of marriages: Customary Law and Islamic Marriage or Statutory Marriage, disclosing that the system prohibits any part who embraces one of the forms from seeking another while the former still subsists, saying they are all acceptable under the Nigerian Law.
The director spoke yesterday at a one-day stakeholder’s forum on citizenship and marriage administration in Nigeria organised by the Ministry of Interior in collaboration with Anchor Datawares Solutions, ADS, in Abuja.
In a paper entitled. An over view of the Marriage Act CAP 218 Laws of The Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Volume 8 CAP M6 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004); he noted that the Marriage Act has been abused. “So many sordid things are done in the name of marriage and the marriage registry still issues them with marriage certificates. There should be a stop to that so as to protect the integrity and authenticity of marriage and the marriages celebrated in Nigeria.”
According to Ogbu, there seems to be confusion on the part of religious leaders and marriage registrars on the proper interpretation of section 6 of the Act which provides that the minister (Interior) may license any place of public worship, not group of public worshipers in this regard.
Highlighting some of the provisions of the Marriage Act, he said the law stipulates that marriage must be celebrated in a legalised place of worship with doors opened and not before 10:00 a.m. and not after 4:00 p.m., adding that any marriage which does not follow the laid down procedure was illegal.
Ogbu however said those who failed to follow the procedure could go back and observe the procedures to legalise their marriages.
Delivering a keynote address, Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro hinted that the forum was to sensitise stakeholders and the general public on the guidelines and procedures in the administration of Nigeria Citizenship and marriage registry with a view to addressing the inherent challenges in order to conform to global best practices.
“I believe the Forum will further provide government organisations the needed opportunity to interface and compare regulatory techniques and best practices that will enable them share vital security information that are prerequisite for processing these sensitive facilities in view of current security challenges facing the country.”
Earlier in a welcome address, the ministry’s permanent secretary, Mrs. A M Daniel-Nwaobia stated that the forum was the second phase in the series of interactions by the citizenships and business department of the ministry to sensitise the public on the automation of the ministry’s processes of facilities offered by the Citizenship and Business department.