MARRIAGE CERTIFICATES NOT ISSUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATUTORY MARRIAGE GUIDELINES ARE INVALID

The Federal Government (FG), has said that marriage certificates that were not issued in accordance with statutory marriage guidelines are invalid and holds no legal value in case of any eventuality in the relationship. 

 The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Georgina Ehuriah, observed that the proliferation of marriage certificates and other essential marriage documents from unauthorized worship centers, stressing that any marriage conducted under any guise that is not in line with the Marriage Act, is illegal.

 The permanent secretary said that the Nigerian Law envisaged three types of marriages – Traditional/Customary, Church/Islamic and Statutory.

 “Unlike the other two, the procedure, the role and functions of the key players in the conduct of statutory marriage are purely constitutional and guided by relevant laws,” she said.

“The Marriage Act Cap M6 of the law of the federation of Nigeria, 2004 as amended, is the Principal Act upon which statutory marriages are conducted, legalized and adjudicated in Nigeria,” she said.

“Section 24, 30 and 31 specify the duties of the Principal Registrar of Marriage for the distribution to all registries and recognized licensed places of worship throughout Nigeria,” she said.

“As well as the custodian of the counterfeit i.e. the 3rd copy of the marriage certificate. The implication of this that any certificate not printed and delivered by the Principal Registrar of Marriage is illegal and cannot serve the desired purposes,” she said.