The rate at which Nigerians blindly celebrate their marriages in churches, after
celebrating the same marriage at the marriage registry has become quite alarming.
One cannot but wonder their reason for this, and it has been established that, couples
intend to be married under the law, so that they may enjoy such benefit that comes
with being married under the law, and because of the notion that marriage celebrated
under the law is superior to all other kind of marriages, nevertheless, they want their
marriage to be solemnized by a minister of God, but little do they know the
implications of their actions, to crown it all, marriage need not to be celebrated in the
registry before one can be said to be married under the law, and this is one of the focus
of this paper. Also, although there seems to be no problem with parties, who having
solemnized their marriage under customary law, go ahead to solemnized such
marriage under the law, so long, the provisions of The Marriage Act is duly followed,
but with regards, to the belief that celebration of marriage with another person under
the law, while being married under native law and customs to another person, will
render the marriage contracted under law superior to the one contracted under native
law and custom, is very wrong, for as shall soon be seen, it is impossible to enter into
a marriage contract under the law with another person, while being married under
customary law, to another person.