Eben Enasco Reporting
Women in Nigeria are believed to be easily exposed to danger over the Challenges of Double Decker Marriage Act in the Country which is seen by legal professionals as a major hiccup created in society.
This is as Legal experts are recommending a complete review of the act to curb the rising incidences.
This was the outcome of an annual lecture held on Tuesday and delivered by the Dean of Faculty of Law, University of Benin, UNIBEN, Prof. Omoruyi Ikponmwonsa at the law week event organized by the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Benin Branch.
The Theme: “Rising Incidence of Double Decker Marriages in Nigeria Legal Issues”, the University don explained that Customary Marriage and Court Marriage have guidelines that distinguished both from each other and are completely on their own.
Prof. Omoruyi Ikponmwosa believes that Women usually feel unsafe with Customary Marriage, which is what they see as hazardous because it lacks documentation of the process that usually goes with Court Marriages.
According to Omoruyi, both systems of Marriage are skewed against each other because they are completely on their own.
He sought that the National Assembly should review the Marriage Act and unify the marriage system to enable the Judiciary to have a direct legal framework that would either support Couples to go for any of the Marriage Systems or avoid duplication of action that has distinguished itself with its requirements.
Speaking, The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Benin branch, Chief Nosa Francis Edo-Osagie described Law Week as very Educative with the caliber of Guest Speakers drawn from across the country to talk on issues affecting the Country.
Comrade Francis noted that the Law Week which started on Monday with the Theme: A Review of the Nation’s Political Culture and Electoral Integrity has touched on issues that bedeviled the last general election and proffer solutions on the way forward.
He further said, that the NBA, Benin branch will propose a Marriage Act bill that would be sent to the National Assembly for review as they are so many lacunae in the Marriage Act that needs to be addressed to reduce the legal challenges Practitioners experience daily in the Court of Law.
The afternoon section which was anchored by a panel of Four Discussants saw each Discussant present a detailed explanation of the Marriage Act and respond to questions raised from the Lecture delivered by the lead Speaker, Prof. Omoruyi Ikponmwosa.
The discussants were Prof. Lawrence Atsegbua, Prof. Bright Bazuaye, and Prof. Nosa Obaizawonmuwan along with members of the NBA, Edo branch, who expressed their satisfaction with the performances of the present NBA Leadership tagged the Team Dream.