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City Beats Lagos court In a landmark judgment delivered by Honourable Justice O. J. Awope of the Ikeja Judicial Division, Lagos State, a statutory marriage was nullified due to its contradiction with an earlier Islamic marriage conducted by the couple. In the case of Kasim Ibraheem Oluwadare v. Kasim Sherifat Morenike, the petitioner sought a decree of nullity for the statutory marriage contracted at the Ikorodu Local Government Marriage Registry on October 3, 2013. The petition filed on behalf of the petitioner by his counsel Saheed Akinola Esq., highlighted the couple’s lack of comprehension regarding the legal implications of the statutory marriage, undertaken primarily for travel purposes. Grounds for Nullity The petitioner contended that both he and the respondent were unaware that the statutory marriage could potentially invalidate their existing Islamic marriage. The couple, devout Muslims, were under the impression that the statutory marriage was merely a formality required for their travel abroad. This misunderstanding, coupled with their strong adherence to Islamic marital principles, formed the basis of their petition for nullification. The court examined the evidence presented, including the Islamic marriage certificate dated July 7, 2013, and the statutory marriage certificate from October 3, 2013. Mr. Oluwadare’s testimony […]