At the Ikoyi marriage registry
SIR: Recently, I went to Ikoyi Registry with a friend who wanted to wed in the Catholic Church to collect court permit. But what I saw that day was not only disturbing but unbelievable. I saw real 419ers who identified themselves as staff of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Department of Marriage Registry.
My friend was told to pay the sum of N1000 for registration and he paid and receipt was given to him. He was later given a bill of N5,000 plus two biro pens to be paid for on the date given to him to come for the oath taking. Ordinarily, the charges ought to be between N1000 and N1,500 to obtain the wedding papers.
I think this should interest the Minister of Internal Affairs. If churches go on behalf of members for the permit, it is not more than N1,500. But if an individual goes alone, such a person or individual will pay as much as N6,000 for the same certificate. Everybody knows that the amount for court marriage especially in Nigeria is not more than N1,500. The way this fraud is being organised at the Ikoyi Registry is worrisome and it is against the anti-corruption posture of this government.
Furthermore, judging by what people see or hear, sooner or later, God will judge the staff of this Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs whom I believe are employed and paid every month yet they forcefully take money from members of the public under the guise of "order from above."
This situation cannot continue under President Obasanjo's administration, as he is out to eliminate corruption in the society.
I ask the Minister of Internal Affairs and his staff why should we pay as much as N6,000 for the marriage certificate and before you complete the form you must be forced to make photocopies of the form (three copies) but you are entitled to fill out only one copy while the staff sell the rest two copies, and why must we come to take oath with two biro pens
It didn't end there, the price list was pasted on the door with all types of marriage ranging from N5,000 - N10,000 depending on which form of marriage you want to undertake. When I asked one woman in the office who issued the form to my friend she said that it was an order from the above. Minister of Internal Affairs, is it true that you give such order to forcefully take money from members of the public
The Minister of Internal Affairs should kindly see this act of his staff in this department as dubious. I am anxiously waiting for the Minister of Internal Affairs to effect a change in this regard.
Pius Onyeukwu,
Lagos
