News

Rivers LG Seals Marriage Registry Premises

Published

3 years ago

June 20, 2022

The Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of Rivers state on Monday sealed off the premises of the Federal Ministry of Interior marriage registry.

This sealing off of the premises was to enforce a Federal High Court order issued by Honourable Justice D. E. Osiogor on December 8, 2021.

The council in the company of representatives of the inter-governmental marriage committee, bailiff of the Federal High Court and security agencies stormed the premises of the Federal Ministry of Interior’s marriage registry located at Railway Close, behind Nitel in Line, Port Harcourt to enforce the court order.

The court order sighted by our correspondent marked FHC/L/CS/816/2018, has Etiosa LGA of Lagos state; Egor LGA of Edo state; Owerre Municipal LGA and Port Harcourt City LGA as plaintiffs.

The Honourable Minister of Interior, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and Anchor Dataware Solutions Limited were defendants.

Speaking to a newsmen after the sealing of the premises, the Secretary, Port Harcourt City Local Government, Barr. Chile-Kay Owuru, said they were empowered by the law to seal the facility.

Owuru explained that the law empowered only local government councils to conduct marriages and issue certificates.

He said, “We are here alongside the inter-governmental marriage committee and the bailiff of the Federal High Court to seal up this facility because we have a court judgement ordering that the Federal Ministry of Interior and Anchor Dataware Solutions Limited have no right whatsoever to conduct marriages and issue marriage certificates under the marriage act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Marriage act is the function of the 774 local governments as contained in the constitution.

“So my advice to the general public to get proper information, those people that want to get married should approach the local government marriage registry, we have an office here where marriages are conducted by law.

“My advice to the general public is that they should discountenance that facility. They should stop going there, because by this judgement, any marriage conducted by the Federal Ministry of Interior is null and void and of no effect. It is illegal.”

Owuru further said,”The proper place to conduct your marriages is the local government and the certificates would be issued to you.”

Explaining when the said court order was issued, the council scribe said, “The matter was initiated in 2018 precisely and the landmark judgement was delivered on the 8th of December, 2021, by Honourable Justice D. E. Osiagor, who perpetually restrained the Federal Ministry of Interior from conducting marriages and issuing of marriage certificates under the marriage act.

“We know that one of the cardinal functions of the Local Government as contained in schedule 4 of the 1999 is the conducting of marriages, issue marriage certificates, even birth and death certificates.

“That is the exclusive function of the local government donated to the local government by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but surprisingly some persons are carrying out this function.”

Speaking to newsmen, lead counsel for Local Government Councils in Nigeria and Secretary General, Inter-governmental Marital Committee, Roger Adedimeji, said henceforth, any marriage conducted in the Federal Ministry of Interior in Rivers State is deemed illegal by law.

“The judgement ordered that it’s only the local government that can register all types of marriages including customary marriages and if there is anybody registering marriages apart from the local government, it is illegal and void.

“Such certificate would not be recognised, especially since the judgement was issued.”

Responding to the development, a staff of the Federal Ministry of Interior who identified himself as John Oloko, said the local government council touted court order was fictitious.

He stated, “This issue of local government and the ministry of interior had been going on, there had been judgement on the same issue in 2014, 2016 or thereabout, which had been against them (local government.)

“Now you have a case, if the judgement did not favour you, what are you supposed to do, are you not supposed to appeal?

“They never made appeal first attempt, they never made appeal second attempt, they went to a court of same jurisdiction to take this judgement.

“Even the judgement they are talking about is not the entire ministry, so I am not happy at all with what is happening here today.”

News

Tinubu Unveils Plan To Restart Oil Production In Ogoniland

Published

5 hours ago

September 24, 2025

Editor

President Bola Tinubu has moved to restart oil production in Ogoniland in Rivers State.

The president disclosed this on Wednesday when he conferred posthumous national honours of Commander of the Order of the Niger, CON, on the late Ogoni four; Albert Badey, Edward Kobani, Theophilus Orage, and Samuel Orage.

Conferring the honours at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Tinubu urged the Ogoni people to embrace reconciliation and unity after decades of division.

He assured them of his administration’s support for peace, environmental remediation, and economic revival in the land.

“I am encouraged by the overwhelming consensus of the Ogoni communities to welcome the resumption of oil production.

“The government will deploy every resource to support your people in this march towards shared prosperity,” he said.

The president directed the National Security Adviser, NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to begin engagements between Ogoni communities, NNPCL, and other stakeholders to finalise modalities for restarting operations.

Earlier in his report, the NSA stated that the consultations engaged all four Ogoni zones and the diaspora, capturing demands for structured participation in oil production, accelerated cleanup, and sustainable development.

News

Former Oyo Police Commissioner Is Dead

Published

7 hours ago

September 24, 2025

Editor

A Former Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Abiodun Odude is dead.

The shocking news of his death was shared by the Chairman, Ibadan branch of Government College, GCI Old Boys Association, Akin Orowale on the Association’s platform.

Abiodun Odude, an old boy of GCI, served as Oyo CP between 2017 and 2019.

In the meantime, reactions have continued to trail the death of Odude.

A former Director General, Oyo State Signage and Advertisement Agency (OYSAA), and GCI OBA stalwart, Dr Yinka Adepoju posted this on platform.

“Hmmm, another deep cut in the GCI Old Boys Association and Boys of 71 Set in particular!

“May the Soul of Biodun rest in peace as l pray that the Lord comforts all members of this Great 71Set and his entire family members, ‘Yinka Adepoju @71, 2356# Grierson”

“So sad to lose such a personality NOW. But what can we do? Nothing absolutely than to wish him eternal rest and divine consolation to the loved ones left behind, particularly his immediate family and GCIOBA,” another old boy, who is an Ibadan based politician, Mr Adeniyi Adeoti said.

The late Odude served in the Intelligence Department, Zone 2, Lagos State as Deputy Commissioner of Police, CID, Panti, Yaba; he was Commissioner of Police, Administration; Department of Finance and Admin., Force Headquarters, Abuja.

News

Lagos Govt Gives Computer Village Traders Ultimatum To Relocate To Katangowa

Published

11 hours ago

September 24, 2025

Editor

The Lagos State Government has given traders at the popular Computer Village in Ikeja an 18-month deadline to move to a new permanent site at Katangowa, in the Agbado/Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Gbolahan Oki, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ engagement with market leaders and traders on Tuesday.

According to him, the state government has provided the necessary infrastructure and facilities at the Katangowa site to ensure a conducive business environment once the relocation takes effect.

“The government wants your cooperation to ensure the relocation comes to pass. The time is now. We have to make the project a reality. The relocation period is 18 months,” Oki said.

He explained that Computer Village currently sits on land originally designated as a residential area, which over time was converted into a bustling commercial hub without formal approval from the government.

Oki also revealed that plans to move traders from Ikeja to Katangowa have been in the works since 2006 but were stalled due to delays in completing the new site.

Emphasizing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to inclusive governance, he noted that the stakeholders’ meeting was convened to carry traders along in the government’s plans.

“The governor is passionate about infrastructure development and the welfare of Lagosians. Katangowa has been designated as the permanent site for this market. It sits on 15 hectares of land, well-planned and strategically located near essential resources for your businesses.

“The present location in Ikeja was never meant to serve as a trading hub. What we are offering at Katangowa is a structured market environment that supports growth while addressing environmental and urban planning concerns. We want to work with you and jointly plan this relocation,” Oki said.