Interior ministry warns registrars against facilitating ‘ghost marriages’

The ministry of interior has warned registrars against facilitating ghost marriages.

Moremi Soyinka-Onijala, director of citizenship and business department, said any of its registry officials caught violating the law with regards to registration of marriages will be punished.

Speaking with NAN on Wednesday, she said the ministry of interior has trained its registrars to comply with the provisions of the marriage act in the conduct of statutory marriages and to verify the identity of intending couples by obtaining valid forms of identity.

She said the valid form of identity to be obtained include national identity card, international passport, driver’s licence and voter’s identity card.

“Whoever impersonates any other person in marriage, or marries under a false name or description, with intent to deceive the other party to the marriage, shall be liable to imprisonment for five years,” Soyinka-Onijala said.

”It is an important requirement for intending couples to be physically present at any registry (federal or not) or at any licensed public place of worship in order to be married under the provisions of the Marriage Act of 1990 Cap 218 LFN as amended.

“Ghost marriages as they are called, are illegal and any marriages so conducted are rendered null and void ab initio.

“The identity card in addition to other requirements, is uploaded by the applicant with evidence of payment of the requisite fee, unto the automated platform of the ministry viz ecitibiz-interior.gov.ng.

“The registrar must be satisfied that all the conditions have been met before the registrar’s certificate (Form C), which is an authorisation to marry under the act, is issued. Therefore, before the day of the marriage, the registrar already is in possession of the photographs and all other documents that he needs to identify them with.

“If any federal registrar is found to have violated the Law, he or she shall be punished in accordance with the provisions of the Marriage Act and the Public Service Rules.”

The director said the ministry does not condone illegal practices by federal marriage registries.