All marriages conducted at Ikoyi registry have been declared illegal and invalid by a Nigerian High Court sitting in Lagos.
The court declared that it was unconstitutional for the federal government to conduct marriages, and all solemnisation of unions at the Ikoyi marriage registry, Lagos.
The court, presided over by Justice Osiagor, held that only the local government marriage registries were empowered to do such by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution
Osiagor revealed 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
He consequently ordered the closure of all federal marriage registries opened by the ministry, including that of Ikoyi marriage registry with immediate effect.