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Rivers LG Seals Marriage Registry Premises

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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.

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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.

READ ALSO: BREAKING: 2023: Court Stops INEC From Ending Voter Registration

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

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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.

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“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.”

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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.

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“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.

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“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.)

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“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.

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“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.”

 

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Migration Agency Warns Migrants Against Irregular Travel Routes

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The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with Giving is Healing Foundation, has sensitised residents of Ayobo in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State on the dangers of irregular migration and the need to embrace legal travel procedures.

Speaking during a sensitisation programme held at Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association in Ayobo, the founder of Giving is Healing Foundation, Mr. Gbolahan Ayediran, warned intending migrants against using illegal travel routes.

Ayediran said many Nigerians desire to migrate abroad in search of better opportunities but often ignore proper procedures, thereby exposing themselves to several dangers.

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“Lots of people want to migrate and most of them do it in the wrong direction. The reason for the programme is for us to advise people on how they can migrate in the right way. As much as migration is their right, they should do it correctly,” he said.

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He advised intending travellers to obtain the necessary travel documents before embarking on any journey, noting that such documents include international passports, visas, flight tickets and yellow cards, depending on the destination country.

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According to him, migrants should also gather adequate information about their destination countries to enable them make informed decisions before travelling.

Ayediran further highlighted some of the dangers associated with irregular migration, including abuse, exploitation, discrimination and forced labour.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association, Elder Mathews Amusan, commended the organisers for enlightening members of the community on safe migration practices.

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READ ALSO: He Can’t Fix His Party Let Alone Nigeria – Oshiomhole Blasts Atiku

He urged residents planning to travel abroad to always follow legal migration procedures to avoid falling victim to human trafficking and other migration-related challenges.

One of the participants, Mr. Kolawole Adenoko, said the programme enlightened him on the dangers of irregular migration and the importance of travelling through the proper channels.

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He added that he would also educate his relatives and friends on the risks associated with illegal migration.

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Shatta Wale Bailed Burna Boy From Ghana Prison After Arrest For Smoking Weed – Captan

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Ghanian singer, Captan, has claimed that his former record label boss, Shatta Wale, once bailed Nigerian singer Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana after he was allegedly arrested for smoking weed.

Speaking in a recent podcast interview, Captan claimed that Shatta Wale sent him and others to free Burna Boy from police custody.

He also claimed that Shatta Wale and his group once accommodated Burna Boy when he was being hunted by some dangerous men.

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READ ALSO: Wale Edun Opens Up After Sack

Captan said, “I once bailed Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana when he was arrested for smoking weed. Shatta Wale sent me and some guys to go and free him from police custody.

“There was a time we also accommodated him when some people were after his life. We helped him settle the case.”

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He added that he and Burna Boy are no longer in good terms after the Nigerian artist’s fallout with his mentor, Shatta Wale.

He, however, said he and Shatta Wale are open to reconciling with Burna Boy if he asks for it.

Watch the video here

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Children’s Day: Chaos At Ogbe Stadium As Dozens Faint

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Chaos erupted on Wednesday during the Children’s Day celebration as dozens of students reportedly collapsed following a stampede triggered by the use of pepper spray.

The event,
organised by the Edo State Ministry of Education at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was disrupted after some male students of Ihogbe College allegedly made uncompromising advances towards female students at the venue.

‎ A parent who identified himself as Oboh Emmanuel said, “the behaviour of those uncultured students attracted the attention of bouncers stationed at the stadium as they rebuked the male students.”

‎Oboh said the affected students later regrouped and attacked the bouncers, leading to a confrontation within the crowded arena.

READ ALSO:Children’s Day: Edo Commits To Child Protection

It was gathered that in the ensuing confusion, the bouncers were reported to have deployed pepper spray in an area occupied by a large number of students.

‎Several students, particularly female students, reportedly fainted after inhaling the substance, while others sustained injuries after being stepped on during the ensuing melee.

‎The panic was said to have spread across the stadium as students, teachers and parents scampered for safety.

‎Many of the affected students were reportedly rushed to the Edo Specialist Hospital for medical attention.

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READ ALSO: Egor LG Chair, Ogbemudia, Vice, Osawe Impeached

Reacting to the incident, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Dr Patrick Ebojele, said the security personnel that fired the tear gas had been detained.

He said all the students, except two, that were rushed to the hospital have been discharged.

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Ebojele stated that doctors wanted to observe the students till tomorrow before allowing them to go home.

The two students are not seriously injured. Doctors want to observe them overnight. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education is still at the hospital. The man who used pepper spray has been detained.

“The incident did not happen the way it is being exaggerated. All modalities were put in place to ensure the children enjoyed their day.”

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