When a New Marriage Is Invalid and A Crime. DAILY TIPS by Onyekachi Umah,Esq. (Tip 47)
When a New Marriage Is Invalid and A Crime. Where a spouse already married via a Customary/Native/Traditional Marriage goes on without a divorce to marry another person via an English/Statutory/Court Marriage such new Marriage is invalid, Null and Void. It is also an offence punishable with 5 years imprisonment.
My authorities:
1. Sections 33(1) and 46 of Marriage Act.
2. The judgment of the Court of Appeal in (the role of bride price in customary marriages) in the case of TONY CHIBUEZE OKOLONWAMU & ANOR v. MRS THERESA NKEM OKOLONWAMU & ORS (2014) LPELR-22631(CA)
3. Onyekachi Umah, “Custody of Children of Traditional Marriages and the “Chichidodo” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 18 February 2021) <https://sabilaw.org/custody-of-children-of-traditional-marriages-and-the-chichidodo/> accessed 11 March 2021.
4. Onyekachi Umah, “How To Be Legally Married” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 6 March 2016) <https://sabilaw.org/how-to-be-legally-married/> accessed 11 March 2021
5. Onyekachi Umah, “English Marriages Outside Marriage Registries and Churches Are Valid” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 28 September 2020) <https://sabilaw.org/english-marriages-outside-marriage-registries-and-churches-are-valid/> accessed 11 March 2021.
6. Onyekachi Umah, “When Can Churches Dissolve Marriages?” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 25 August 2020) <https://sabilaw.org/when-can-churches-dissolve-marriages/> accessed 11 March 2021
7. Onyekachi Umah, “3 Steps to a Valid English/Court Marriage” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 21 August 2020) <https://sabilaw.org/3-steps-to-a-valid-english-court-marriage/> accessed 11 March 2021
8. Onyekachi Umah, “Minimum Number of Guests for Marriages in Nigeria” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 14 August 2020) <https://sabilaw.org/minimum-number-of-guests-for-marriages/> accessed 11 March 2021
9. Onyekachi Umah, “Forget Hollywood & Nollywood: In Nigeria, Marriages Cannot End By Signing Of Divorce Papers.” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 23 July 2020) <https://sabilaw.org/forget-hollywood-nollywood-in-nigeria-marriages-cannot-end-by-signing-of-divorce-papers-daily-law-tips-tip-616-by-onyekachi-umah-esq-ll-m-aciarbuk/> accessed 17 February 2021.
10. Onyekachi Umah, “How To Prove Traditional Marriage In Nigeria” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 20 May 2020) <https://sabilaw.org/how-to-prove-traditional-marriage-in-nigeria-daily-law-tips-tip-573-by-onyekachi-umah-esq-llm-aciarbuk/> accessed 17 February 2021
11. Onyekachi Umah, “Customary Marriages In Nigeria Are To Be Registered In Court.” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 13 September 2018) <https://sabilaw.org/daily-law-tips-by-onyekachi-umah-esq-tip-183-customary-marriages-in-nigeria-are-to-be-registered-in-court/> accessed 17 February 2021.
12. Onyekachi Umah, “Custody of a Child In Customary Marriage: How and To Whom?” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 29 September 2021) <https://sabilaw.org/custody-of-a-child-in-customary-marriage-how-and-to-whom/> accessed 17 February 2021
13. Onyekachi Umah, “Factors That Court Consider Before Granting Custody Of Child To Any Person.” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 3 March 2020) <https://sabilaw.org/factors-that-court-consider-before-granting-custody-of-child-to-any-person-daily-law-tips-tip-517-by-onyekachi-umah-esq-llm-aciarbuk/> accessed 17 February 2021
14. Onyekachi Umah, “Forced Marriage Is An Offence In Nigeria” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 21 October 2020) <https://sabilaw.org/forced-marriage-is-an-offence-in-nigeria/> accessed 11 March 2021
15. Onyekachi Umah, “Child Marriage/Abuse Is A Crime (Rape): An Exposé On Laws Prohibiting Child Marriage” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 22 June 2020) <https://sabilaw.org/child-marriage-abuse-is-a-crime-rape-an-expose-on-laws-prohibiting-child-marriage-daily-law-tips-tip-593-by-onyekachi-umah-esq-llm-aciarbuk/> accessed 11 March 2021
16. Onyekachi Umah, “Customs That Allow Marriages Between Women Or With Dead Persons; The Position Of The Law” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 13 March 2020) <https://sabilaw.org/position-of-law-on-the-customs-that-allow-marriage-between-women-or-with-dead-persons-daily-law-tips-tip-525-by-onyekachi-umah-esq-llm-aciarbuk/> accessed 11 March 2021
17. Onyekachi Umah, “Approved Time For Valid Weddings (Marriages) In Nigeria” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 26 June 2019) <https://sabilaw.org/approved-time-for-valid-weddings-marriages-in-nigeria-daily-law-tips-tip-359-by-onyekachi-umah-esq-llm-aciarb-uk/> accessed 11 March 2021
18. Onyekachi Umah, “Valid English Marriage Cannot Start From Church/Mosque” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 9 May 2019) <https://sabilaw.org/valid-english-marriage-cannot-start-from-church-mosque-daily-law-tips-tip-327-by-onyekachi-umah-esq-llm-aciarb-uk/> accessed 11 March 2021
19. Onyekachi Umah, “Start Point Of Valid English Marriage In Nigeria” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 6 July 2018) <https://sabilaw.org/daily-law-tips-by-onyekachi-umah-esq-tip-136-start-point-of-valid-english-marriage-in-nigeria/> accessed 11 March 20201
20. Onyekachi Umah, “Legality of Varying Cost of English Marriages Across Nigeria” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 4 July 2018) <https://sabilaw.org/daily-law-tips-by-onyekachi-umah-esq-tip-134-legality-of-varying-cost-of-english-marriages-across-nigeria/> accessed 11 March 2021
21. Onyekachi Umah, “Use of Fake Name by a Spouse Invalidates Marriage in Nigeria” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 29 June 2018) <https://sabilaw.org/daily-law-tips-by-onyekachi-umah-esq-tip-131-use-of-fake-name-by-a-spouse-invalidates-marriage-in-nigeria/> accessed 11 March 2021
22. Onyekachi Umah, “Validity of Marriages Conducted in Ikeja, Abuja and other Federal Marriage Registries in Nigeria” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 21 May 2018) <https://sabilaw.org/daily-law-tips-by-onyekachi-umah-esq-tip-105-validity-of-marriages-conducted-in-ikeja-abuja-and-other-federal-marriage-registries-in-nigeria/> accessed 11 March 2021
23. Onyekachi Umah, “Can A Wife Without A Male Child Inherit Her Husband’s Property?” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 28 October 2020) <https://sabilaw.org/can-a-wife-without-a-male-child-inherit-her-husbands-property/> accessed 11 March 2021
24. Onyekachi Umah, “Punishment For Clergies That Wed People Without License” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 11 September 2020) <https://sabilaw.org/punishment-for-clergies-that-wed-people-couples-without-license/> accessed 11 March 2021
25. Onyekachi Umah, “Drug Test of Ladies before Wedding is Unlawful” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 28 August 2020) <https://sabilaw.org/drug-test-of-ladies-before-wedding-is-unlawful/> accessed 11 March 2021
26. Onyekachi Umah, “A Clergy Cannot Wed People In A Different Church From His” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, July 27 2020) <https://sabilaw.org/a-clergy-cannot-wed-people-in-a-different-church-from-his-daily-law-tips-tip-618-by-onyekachi-umah-esq-ll-m-aciarbuk/> accessed 11 March 2021.
27. Onyekachi Umah, “Married Women And The Need For Husband’s Consent For International Passport” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 16 April 2020) <https://sabilaw.org/married-women-and-the-need-for-husbands-consent-for-international-passport-daily-law-tips-tip-549-by-onyekachi-umah-esq-llm-aciarbuk/> accessed 11 March 2021
28. Onyekachi Umah, “Factors that Court Consider Before Granting Custody of Child to Any Person” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 3 March 2020) <https://sabilaw.org/factors-that-court-consider-before-granting-custody-of-child-to-any-person-daily-law-tips-tip-517-by-onyekachi-umah-esq-llm-aciarbuk/> accessed 11 March 2021
29. Onyekachi Umah, “The Right Court For Divorce In Nigeria” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 24 April 2018) <https://sabilaw.org/daily-law-tips-by-onyekachi-umah-esq-tip-87-the-right-court-for-divorce-in-nigeria/> accessed 11 March 2021
30. Onyekachi Umah, “Refusal to Make Love Is a Ground for Divorce” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 16 April 2018) <https://sabilaw.org/refusal-to-make-love-is-a-ground-for-divorce/> accessed 11 March 2021
31. Onyekachi Umah, “Abolished Anti-Women Custom of Onitsha People of Anambra State, Nigeria” (LearnNigerianLaws, 10 March 2020) <https://sabilaw.org/abolished-anti-women-custom-of-onitsha-people-of-anambra-state-nigeria-daily-law-tips-tip-522-by-onyekachi-umah-esq-llm-aciarbuk/ > accessed 2 October 2020
32. Onyekachi Umah, “Abolished Anti-Women Custom of Yoruba People of Nigeria”, (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 11 March 2020) <https://sabilaw.org/abolished-anti-women-custom-of-yoruba-people-of-nigeria-daily-law-tips-tip-523-by-onyekachi-umah-esq-llm-aciarbuk/ > accessed 2 October 2020.
33. Onyekachi Umah, “How To Stop Your Husband/Wife From Marrying Another Person” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 18 July 2019) <https://sabilaw.org/how-to-stop-your-husband-wife-from-marrying-another-person-daily-law-tips-tip-375-by-onyekachi-umah-esq-llm-aciarb-uk/> accessed 11 March 2021
34. Onyekachi Umah, “Leaving Your Spouse To Marry Another Person is a Criminal Offence” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 3 May 2018) <https://sabilaw.org/daily-law-tips-by-onyekachi-umah-esq-tip-93-leaving-your-spouse-to-marry-another-person-is-a-criminal-offence/> accessed 11 March 2021
35. Onyekachi Umah, “Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting/Elongation, Breasts Ironing And Forced Marriage Are Now Criminal Offences In Nigeria” (Daily Law Tips [443]) <https://sabilaw.org/female-genital-mutilation-cutting-elongation-breasts-ironing-and-forced-marriage-are-now-criminal-offences-in-nigeria-daily-law-tips-tip-443-by-onyekachi-umah-esq-llm-aciarb-uk/ > accessed 12 October 2020.
36. Onyekachi Umah, “Abandonment Of Wife/Husband, Children Or Dependants Is A Crime” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 3 December 2019) <https://sabilaw.org/abandonment-of-wife-husband-children-or-dependants-is-a-crime-daily-law-tips-tip-470-by-onyekachi-umah-esq-llm-aciarb-uk/> accessed 20 April 2021
37. Onyekachi Umah, “Emotional, Verbal And Psychological Abuse Is Now Criminal Offences” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 3 September 2019) <https://sabilaw.org/emotional-verbal-and-psychological-abuse-is-now-criminal-offence/> accessed 28 April 2021
38. Onyekachi Umah, “Forcing Wife to Stop Work is Now A Crime” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 21 April 2021) <https://sabilaw.org/forcing-wife-to-stop-work-is-now-a-crime/https://sabilaw.org/forcing-wife-to-stop-work-is-now-a-crime/> accessed 26 April 2021
39. Onyekachi Umah, “It Is Now An Offence To Force Wife/Husband To Stop Working” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 28 May 2019) <https://sabilaw.org/it-is-now-an-offence-to-force-wife-husband-to-stop-working-daily-law-tips-tip-340-by-onyekachi-umah-esq-llm-aciarb-uk/> accessed 20 April 2021
40. Onyekachi Umah, “Seizing or Destroying the Property of a Spouse is a Crime” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 2 March 2021) <https://sabilaw.org/seizing-or-destroying-the-property-of-a-spouse-is-a-crime/> accessed 20 April 2021
41. Onyekachi Umah, “Can a Married Woman Inherit Her Parents’ Property?”, (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 27 March 2020) <https://sabilaw.org/can-a-married-woman-inherit-her-parents-property-daily-law-tips-tip-535-by-onyekachi-umah-esq-llm-aciarbuk/ > accessed 20 April 2021
42. Onyekachi Umah, “Abolished Anti-Women Custom of Onitsha People of Anambra State, Nigeria” (LearnNigerianLaws, 10 March 2020) <https://sabilaw.org/abolished-anti-women-custom-of-onitsha-people-of-anambra-state-nigeria-daily-law-tips-tip-522-by-onyekachi-umah-esq-llm-aciarbuk/ > accessed 20 April 2021
43. Onyekachi Umah, “Citizen By Marriage Is Discriminatory and Against Nigerian Women”, (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 14 September 2020) <https://sabilaw.org/citizen-by-marriage-is-discriminatory-and-against-nigerian-women/ > accessed 20 April 2021
44. Onyekachi Umah, “Abolished Anti-Women Custom of Yoruba People of Nigeria”, (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 11 March 2020) <https://sabilaw.org/abolished-anti-women-custom-of-yoruba-people-of-nigeria-daily-law-tips-tip-523-by-onyekachi-umah-esq-llm-aciarbuk/ > accessed 20 April 2021
45. Onyekachi Umah, “Can a Married Woman Inherit Her Parents Property?” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 27 March 2020) <https://sabilaw.org/can-a-married-woman-inherit-her-parents-property-daily-law-tips-tip-535-by-onyekachi-umah-esq-llm-aciarbuk/ > accessed 20 April 2021
46. Onyekachi Umah, “It Is An Offence To Chase Out Wife/Husband From A Home Or Even Attempt To Do So” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 17 May 2019) <https://sabilaw.org/it-is-an-offence-to-chase-out-wife-husband-from-a-home-or-even-attempt-to-do-so-daily-law-tips-tip-333-by-onyekachi-umah-esq-llm-aciarb-uk/> accessed 20 April 2021
47. Onyekachi Umah, “Can Court Dismiss Divorce Case Because Husband Impregnated Wife?” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 12 March 2021) <https://sabilaw.org/can-court-dismiss-divorce-case-because-husband-impregnated-wife/> accessed 14 May 2021
48. Onyekachi Umah, “Every Child has Right to a Rest and Play” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 27 May 2021) <https://sabilaw.org/every-child-has-a-right-to-rest-and-play/> accessed 30 May 2021
49. Onyekachi Umah, “Child Marriage/Abuse Is A Crime (Rape): An Exposé On Laws Prohibiting Child Marriage” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 22 June 2020) <https://sabilaw.org/child-marriage-abuse-is-a-crime-rape-an-expose-on-laws-prohibiting-child-marriage-daily-law-tips-tip-593-by-onyekachi-umah-esq-llm-aciarbuk/ > accessed 20 April 2021
50. Onyekachi Umah, “Forced Marriage Is An Offence In Nigeria.” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 21 October 2020) <https://sabilaw.org/forced-marriage-is-an-offence-in-nigeria/> accessed 20 April 2021
51. Onyekachi Umah, “An Alternative to Courts for Human Rights Cases” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 14 May 2021) <https://sabilaw.org/an-alternative-to-courts-for-human-rights-cases/> accessed 23 May 2021.
52. Onyekachi Umah, “Stripping Suspects Naked is Torture and it’s a Crime” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 16 February 2021) <https:// 1 National Human Rights Commission, ‘State Offices” (NHRC) <http://www.nhrc.gov.ng/index.php/regional-offices#zamfara > accessed 27 October 2020
53. Onyekachi Umah, “Details of State Offices of National Human Rights Commission” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 27 October 2020) <https://sabilaw.org/details-of-state-offices-of-national-human-rights-commission/> accessed 14 May 2021
54. Onyekachi Umah, “Who Takes Over the Property After Divorce?” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 18 May 2021) <https://sabilaw.org/who-takes-over-the-property-after-divorce/> accessed 21 June 2021
55. Onyeachi Umh, “Who Takes Over the Properties of Unmarried Lovers After a Breakup?” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 3 June 2021) <https://sabilaw.org/who-takes-over-the-properties-of-unmarried-lovers-after-a-breakup/> accessed 21 June 2021
56. Onyekachi Umah, “11 States That Do Not Protect Children In Nigeria” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 31 May 2021) < https://sabilaw.org/11-states-that-do-not-protect-children-in-nigeria/> accessed 21 June 2021.
57. Picture Credit: Huffingtonpost.co. Za
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