A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the closure of the Ikoyi Marriage Registry, and all Federal Marriage Registries established by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Interior.

The Court made the order in a suit filed by Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, seeking an order to take over the Ikoyi Marriage Registry being operated by the Ministry of Interior, becausethe Federal Government, through the ministry, had no powers to operate a Marriage Registry.

The court presided over by Justice D. E. Osiagor held that the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), statutorily empowers only the Local Government Marriage Registries to conduct marriages and issue certificates.

The Court declared that all marriages conducted by the Federal Marriage Registries or through their agents were illegal and invalid, emphasizing that it was unconstitutional for Federal Government Registries to conduct marriages.