Court bars Ikoyi registry from conducting marriages

By Olawale Kehinde

The Lagos High Court has barred the Federal Government owned Registry in Ikoyi from conducting marriages, saying it is usurping State and Local Government functions.

According to the court, all marriage registries in the Local Government and Local Council Development Areas in Lagos are the authentic and legally-binding government division established to carry out such function.

The judgement delivered by Prof. Chuka Aunstine Obiozor with the reference number Suit No: FHC/L/CS/1760/16 of Lagos High Court, came 14 years after a ruling was made in favour of the State.

It added in the judgement delivered on April 30th  that the action of the registry was unconstitutional because it was usurping the power of the State Government and the Local Government in this regard.

Addressing a Press Conference on the development on Thursday, the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Muslim Folami, said the Ministry is in the process of officially communicating the development to the various Embassies in the State, stressing that the decision of the court is supreme and is legally binding on all, the embassies inclusive.

He added that the Press Conference was strategically necessary in order to intimate the various Embassies resident in Lagos State, the general public and the Country at large that all Marriages conducted and registered in any of the 57 local Government Areas/ Local Council Development Areas are VALID and in accordance with the Marriage Act.

According to him, the judgment would undoubtedly put a stop to the seeming perception of superiority of Ikoyi Marriage Registry over the Local Government Registries.

Folami said that the state government would explore every available windows to enlighten the general public about the development, assuring that the Ministry will not hesistate to schedule meeting with all the embassies in the State tto enlighten them about the new judgement if the need arises.

“We are going to use the five divisions across the state to sensitize our people and inform them about this latest development. From Epe to Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja and Lagos Island. The sensitization walk which we embarked on today is also a way of creating awareness and letting the people know of this latest development.”

He congratulated the efforts of the Management of the various Local Governments and specifically the Marriage Registrars in the LGAs/LCDAs and urged the members of the public to take cognizance of this landmark judgment by patronizing the legal and approved Marriage Registries for the conduct of their Marriages.

While delivering his address, the President for the Marriage Registrars councils, Deji Sokeye, described the judgement as a landmark, saying that the responsibilities of the LGAs/LCDAs has come back to them by the virtue of the law and as provided for inSection 30 (1) of the Marriage Act and Section 7 (5) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Sokeye said the illegal use of power by the Ikoyi Registry had seriously and negatively affected the revenue drive of the various Councils in the State, maintained that the judgement would further restore hope and confidence in the certifcates already issued and that will be issued in future by the local government.

The President disclosed that the State Government have now devised another means of authenticating its seal which now carry red seal with a coded block for all the Council Areas across the State.

Speaking on the authenticity of existing marriage certificates obtained from the local council areas before the new judgment, the president explained that the new certificates that would henceforth be issued by the various council areas does not invalidate the previous certificates.

“There is nothing wrong with the former certificates that did not carry the Red Seal, the Red Seal is just an innovation to the former one and it does not in anyway render the former one invalid’’ He said.

Christmas: Why we fete Christians simultaneously in 20 centres -Ambode

By Kehinde Olawale

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has disclosed that his administration decided to fete thousands of residents, especially Christians, simultaneously in 20 centres across the state, to prevent crime.

The governor stressed that the novel initiative, aside that it serve as an opportunity for the government to strengthen peace in Lagos, would further help to cushion the effect of economic challenges.

While addressing residents at Ojo Local Government secretariat, one of the 20 centres, on Tuesday, Ambode hinted that this was the first Christmas Celebration held simultaneously in all the 20 local government areas in the state.

He said: “During this period, rather than allow the youths to roam the streets and possibly engage in criminal act that could dent the image of Lagos, it is better we gather them together including the elders in the state, and organize an avenue for them to express themselves and celebrate the season.

According to him, when the government embarks on things like this, it would be preventing crime in Lagos.

Ambode, who was represented by Commissioner for Agriculture and co-operatives, Mr. Oluwatoyin Suarau, assured residents of Lagos that his administration “will be embarking more on this to ensure that welfare of both the youths and elderly in the state are catered for.”

While commending the residents for their support which he described as cornerstone of the achievements recorded in the outgoing year, the governor disclosed that the state is gradually moving towards actualizing the dream of building a State that works for all.

 “As a government, we are moving into the New Year with more vigour and determination to move our State to the next higher level particularly in the critical sectors including transportation, sustainable and healthy environment, social and physical infrastructural development, power, housing, tourism, education, etc.

“Together we can and we will achieve more successes in 2018. I look forward to your continued support in the performance of your civic obligations, obedience to rules and regulations and ensuring peace and harmony in all our communities,” he added.

Earlier, the council Chairman, Rosulu Idowu, commended Ambode for upholding his electoral campaign promises of operating an inclusive government in the state.

Lagos seals Marina Mosque over poor sewage management

Picture of a mosque (file photo)

Lagos State Government yesterday shut Marina’s Workers Mosque, Lagos Island over poor sewage management

Speaking while monitoring at the October edition of the monthly sanitation exercise in Mainland and Lagos Island Local Government, Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Samuel Adejare added that any filthy market and motor parks in the state would be shut indefinitely.

He noted that declaration of zero tolerance in Lagos metropolis was to save Lagos from disaster resulting from unkempt environment,

His words “That is why we ordered the closure of the mosque for discharging effluent in the drainage. Marina is our pride, asset and our heritage. We cannot allow anyone to mess it up. This mosque is a temporary building for worship, but we cannot tolerate improper waste disposal.

“There is no emotional feeling attached to it. We cannot allow that in central Lagos. You can all see how they discharged their sewage on the road. Even God will not accept that and I will not allow that,” the commissioner added.

Adejare lamented that environmental condition of the Island Central Business Districts, CBD which was the commercial hub of the state, has degenerated due to the activities of street traders and indiscriminate discharge of waste.

He said “Due to this, we have set-up taskforce comprising Kick Against Indiscipline, KAI officers to ensure that the CBD is well improved upon. This is our CBD and companies make so much money from here. They have to maintain the atmosphere here.”

He warned that the present administration would only cooperate with drivers and market unions that were ready to take ownership of parks and markets through proper management of their environment.

“We won’t send them away if they are ready to take ownership of their environment through proper cleaning. But if they are not serious about it, we will dislodge them and restore sanity in the areas.

And the sanity he said “we will shut such park or market. We cannot allow cholera outbreak. This (markets) is where we buy what we eat daily. And that was why I have decided to make Lagos environment my office and not Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja.

“We are here to make change and take the state to the next level. On Ilaje Otumora slum, in Lagos Mainland Local Government, we are going to sit down and find solution to it. In fact one of our drainage systems that we channeled into the lagoon has been blocked. So, we are going to stop that from happening”, Adejare added.

Scandal hits Lagos Governor’s office over Hajj

Staffs attached to office of Chief of Staff to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode are allegedly engaged in Hajj racketeering.

Sources said that the act had been ongoing for years but previous administrations were unable to uncover the illicit act.

It was learned that the officials attached to this office divert Hajj forms meant for some residents who have contributed immensely to the development of the state to their friends and relatives.

The Guild gathered that when the original owner come for the form, the officials would argued that the governor did not approve his name.

The act became known when correspondents attached to the Governor’s office who were entitled to at least one slot each year to enable them travel to cover activities of Lagos pilgrims, visit the office and were informed that the governor has not approve their hajj form.

After the inauguration of the 2015 Hajj committee, the correspondents became worried considering the delay in availability of the form. And efforts to know reasons for the delay from relevant officials proved abortive.

During further enquiry, it was gathered that the form had been handed over to one Mr. Shola Fashina.

Confirming this, the Amirul Hajj and Chairman of the Hajj Committee, Alhaji AbdulLateef AbdulHakeem during an interaction with the journalist revealed that all sponsored forms from the Governor’s office including the one for correspondent was submitted to office of the Chief of Staff.

AbdulHakeem added that the form has already been filled and submitted for the Hajj without knowledge of the governor’s correspondents.

Fashina, when contacted by the correspondent said he collected and filled the form but declined to name the official who handed him the form.