The federal government has described the judgment of a Federal High Court in Lagos, which declared that it was the responsibility of the local government to consummate marriages and not that of Federal government, as abuse of court process.
The federal government said it was wrong for Justice Daniel Osiagor to have made pronouncement on a matter already decided by another high court of coordinate jurisdiction.
In a statement on Tuesday, Permanent Secretary/Principal Registrar of Marriages in the Ministry of Interior, Dr Shuaib Belgore, said the current decision of the federal high court delivered by Justice Osiagor could not set aside a previous decision of the same court, which was of coordinate jurisdiction, as that would amount to the court sitting on appeal over its own judgment.
There has been a legal brawl between some local government areas in Nigeria against the federal government simply for the determination of who has the power to operate marriage registries, conduct marriages and issue marriage certificates.
For this reason, local government areas had insisted that their powers to register marriages, which were statutorily provided were being usurped by the federal government through the Ministry of Interior.
Recall, Justice Osiagor held on Monday that only the local government marriage registries were empowered to do such by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) in a landmark judgment.
He submitted that the conduct of marriages and issuance of certificates were statutorily the job of the local governments as provided by the law.
The judge added that the acts of the federal government through the Ministry of Interior, operating marriage registries was beyond their powers and held that all marriages conducted by federal marriage registries or through their agents were illegal and invalid.
He consequently ordered the closure of all federal marriage registries opened by the ministry, including that of Ikoyi marriage registry with immediate effect.
Meanwhile, in a statement Tuesday the federal government said: “The attention of the Ministry of Interior has been drawn to news making the rounds on social media claiming that the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has declared all marriages conducted by Ikoyi marriage registry to be illegal and invalid.
“We would like to state that this statement is false, misleading and a deliberate distortion of the decision of the Court in Suit No: FHC/L/CS/816/18 between Eti-Osa Local Government Council & 3 others v. Honourable Minister of Interior and 2 others, where the Honourable Court held that only the Local Government councils can conduct valid marriages in Nigeria.
“It is noteworthy that the same Federal High Court situated in Ikoyi, Lagos in Suit No. FHC/L/870/2002 between Prince Haastrup and Eti Osa Local Government held that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Interior is constitutionally empowered to conduct marriages in Nigeria and held that the local governments were delegated by the federal government to conduct marriages, by virtue of Legal Notices issued pursuant to the Marriage Act.
“In that case, the learned trial judge held that nothing in the role of local governments, as defined in the Constitution, suggests that local governments can conduct or contract marriages as alleged in their pleadings.
“The court affirmed that powers of the local governments to contract statutory marriages is derived from the Legal Notices issued by the President. The court also confirmed that the role of local governments, as enshrined in the Constitution is limited to registration of all forms of marriages (including Islamic and customary marriages).
“Rather than appeal this decision, the same claimants instituted another action in 2016 Suit no. FHC/L/CS/1760/16 Egor Local Government, Eti- Osa Local Government and 2 others V Hon, Minister of Interior and 2 Others. The Court held that the Suit was an abuse of court process, as it could not be invited to make another pronouncement on the same point of law, which would lead to conflicting decisions coming from the same court and therefore struck out the case.
“The same issue was adjudicated in the case of Olumide Babalola vs Ikeja Local Government and the Registered Trustees of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) in Suit No. LD/1343/GCM/2016 delivered on 15th May, 2017. The court held that while registration of marriages are regulated by local governments, being under the concurrent list, formation of marriage is under the Exclusive Legislative List, within the jurisdiction of the Federal Government, regulated by the Ministry of Interior.
“It is further worthy of note that the issue of formation, annulment and other matrimonial causes are by virtue of item 61 of the 1st Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria exclusively reserved for the Federal Government.
“The General Public is invited to note that these judgments are all still subsisting, competent and have not been appealed against till date.
“Further to the above, the current decision of the Federal High Court delivered by Hon. Justice D. E. Osiagor of Court 6, cannot set aside a previous decision of the same Court, which is of coordinate jurisdiction, as that would amount to the court sitting on appeal over its own judgment.
“In the circumstances, the federal government through the Ministry of Interior, has applied for a certified true copy of the judgement and will take appropriate further action including but not limited to filing of an appeal in respect of this conflicting and confusing decision, in line with the provisions of the Constitution.
“We would like to appeal to the general public, the international community, to couples who had hitherto had their marriages solemnized at Federal Marriage Registries by duly licensed places of worship and to all intending couples to be calm and continue transacting their normal businesses at all Federal Marriage Registries subsisting throughout the federation in line with statutory and constitutional provisions.
“The general public is to please note the foregoing and maintain status quo ante.”
