The Owerri Ecclesiastical province, on Friday the 27th of January 2023, organized the 1st edition of the judicial year, at the MARIA ASSUMPTA JUBILEE HALL, OWERRI.
THEME: TOWARDS A HARMONIZATION OF CIVIL AND CUSTOMARY LAWS EFFECTS OF CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE AMIDST MARRIAGE AND FAMILY CRISIS.
The aim of the program was inspired by the vision of the Metropolitan Archbishop of Owerri Diocese and the President, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), The Most Reverend Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji.
Over the years the relationship between the Church and State has been bewildering, viewed through the lens of the average citizenry. The history of Nigeria is replete with a recurrent cycle of crisis, political rancor, social instability, injustice, infringement upon fundamental human rights, the collapse of education, religious intolerance, threats of religious freedom, and general tension. Just like the citizens, the Catholic Church has experienced threats and denial of fundamental rights by the State, (John Chidi 2022).
The event created a synergy between the Church and State as well as a point of interaction between the Ecclesiastical and judicial frameworks in Nigeria and a contact between the civil executive and judicial powers that seek a harmonization between the common law statutes, marriage ordinance, and customary norms on marriage rites.
From L-R: Barr. Onwere Victor Esq (Head, CSAAE Advocacy, Nigeria), Rev. Fr. Dr. Godswill Agbagwa (Executive Director, CSAAE), Barr. Onyeonoro Vivian Ngozi Esq ( Head, CSAAE Advocacy, Imo state), Mrs. Adiele Wobilor Rejoice (CSAAE Advocacy programs Coordinator)
L_R; Rev.fr.Dr. Godswill Agbagwa (Executive Director, CSAAE), Her Lordship Hon. Justice Theresa Chukwuemeka Chikeka (Honorable Chief, justice Imo state)
Many Christian faithful in their bid to fulfill the requirements of the statutory laws, native laws, and customs, furthermore subject themselves to the demands of the sacramentality of Christian marriages. As a result of the demands of society, most intending couples subject themselves to the 3 forms of marriage with the ambiguity and the dictates of their various constitutions, canon law, and customary laws. The maiden edition helped to outline the various lines between these forms of Marriage, its importance and legitimacy.
Keynotes Addresses was presented by His Grace the Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, Metropolitan Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, who reiterated that the occasion of the Inauguration will help all in the justice ministry to reflect on all kinds of Judicial issues including the causes and best solvable conduct of;
– Matrimonial nullity
– Proceedings/Separation and
-Statutory marriage ordinance.
The knowledge of the laws guiding marriage and its nullity by the justice ministry will help identify the areas of improvement and guide in the improvement of service to the faithful.
In the words of Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji
“In the light of these difficult pastoral situations in our families caused by marriage crisis and breakdowns, the church is not unconscious of the sufferings of the faithful caught in the breakdown of marriage and the difficulty of regularizing the situation.”
The Chief justice of Imo state, Her Lordship Hon. Justice Theresa Chukwuemeka Chikeka was one of the keynote speakers and spoke on the topic ”The Place of Marriage in the Marriage Act, vis-à-vis statutory marriage.
In the words of the Honorable Chief Justice,
“I sincerely hope that my modest effort in casting shade on the subject matter will go a long way in helping the participants in realizing the importance of the sanctity of marriage in the society as ordained by God, to curtail the excesses of this immoral monster that is desecrating our society and matrimonial homes”.
She x-rayed the institution of marriage, Gen. 2:24 therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh.
Educating the participants on the laws that are crucial parts of marriage, including the so-called “Bride price”- Explaining that, it is not every payment or gift made by the groom to the bride’s family qualifies as bride price. Also shining the light on the peculiarities associated with each marriage law.
A Classic Example given Includes;
-The Marriage must be between citizens of Nigeria, if it holds under customary law otherwise, the marriage is void.
-A Wedding under an unlicensed church is void. Thus people should be careful where they hold weddings.
-Marriage under false names or where the parties are married without the registrars’ certificate of notice or license which is duly given under section 13 of the Act, the marriage shall be null and void.
L-R Bishop. Echema (Bishop of Aba Diocese), Rev.fr.Dr. God’swill Agbagwa (Executive Director, CSAAE)
The Centre for social awareness, Advocacy, and Ethics, (CSAAE) advocates for the rule of law and insists that citizens must be made to know and understand the laws including the laws guiding, marriages to reduce marriage failures and complexities associated. The Program is consistent with the goals and ideological pursuit of CSAAE. Representatives of the Centre for social awareness, advocacy, and ethics were present to gain from the wealth of knowledge disposed. The CSAAE Advocacy programs Coordinator, Mrs. Adiele Wobilor Rejoice, The Head, CSAAE Advocacy Nigeria, Barr. Victor Onwere Esq, The Head CSAAE Imo state, Onyeonoro Vivian Ngozi and the Executive director CSAAE, Rev. Fr. Dr. Godswill Agbagwa, was fully on the ground to connect with the message passed. Recall CSAAE has led and is leading programs on social, Legal, governmental, and Human rights Advocacy. The Breakdown of Marriage Institutions in society is at an all-time high. This is based on a marriage rate of 6.1 people per 1,000 total populations and a divorce rate of 2.7 people per 1,000 total populations; Translating to for every 6.1 people who get married in Nigeria, 2.7 will be divorced. These issues have off-shoot to too many social problems, which are core to societal growth and development.
This Maiden Inauguration is part of the Church’s demonstration of its concerns as a religious institution to facilitate and uphold the necessary knowledge and the rule of law as the populace enters into marriages. The judicial year was declared open by his lordship.
Written By;
Osunkwo Kingsley Uzoma
Fellow, Centre for Social Awareness, Advocacy, and Ethics.
Adiele Wobilor Rejoice
Advocacy Programs Coordinator.
