Nigerian Legislation

1.     (1)            After the commencement of this Act, a matrimonial cause shall not be instituted otherwise than under this Act.

(2)            If a matrimonial cause has been instituted before the commencement of this Act but not completed, it shall be continued and dealt with only in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

(3)            Where before or after the commencement of this Act a matrimonial cause has been or is instituted, and whether or not it has been completed, proceedings in relation there- to for any relief or order of a kind that could be sought under this Act shall be instituted after the commencement of this Act only under this Act, so however that, subject to the succeeding provisions of this and the next section-

(a)             any jurisdiction of a court of summary jurisdiction of a State or of a court of appeal from such a court, under the law of that State, to make-

(i)             orders with respect to the maintenance of wives or children or the custody of or access to children; or

(ii)            separation orders or other orders having the effect of relieving a party to a marriage from any obligation to cohabit with the other party, shall not be affected by this Act or any proceedings thereunder; and

(b)            proceedings for or in respect of such an order, or for its enforcement, may be continued or instituted as if this Act had not been made.

(4)            Where a marriage is dissolved or annulled by a decree of a court of competent jurisdiction under this Act-

(a)            any jurisdiction of such a court or of a court on appeal from such a court, to make orders of the kind specified in subsection (3) (a) of this section shall, by virtue of this subsection, cease to be applicable in relation to the parties to the marriage or the children of the marriage; and

(b)            any order of that kind (unless it is a maintenance order, when subsection (6) of this section will apply) made by such a court in relation to those parties or children shall cease to have effect. -

(5)            A court in the exercise of its jurisdiction under this Act may at any time by order direct that an order of the kind specified in subsection (3) (a) of this section made by a court of summary jurisdiction, or by a court on appeal from such a court, shall cease to have effect; and that order shall cease to have effect accordingly.

(6)            Where an order of the kind specified in subsection (3) (a) of this section made with respect to the maintenance of a wife or of children ceases to have effect under subsection (4) or (5) of this section, the order made may, in so far as it relates to any period before it so ceased to have effect, be enforced as if this Act had not been made.

2.     (1)            Subject to this Act, a person may institute a matrimonial cause under this Act in the High Court of any State of the Federation; and for that purpose the High Court of each State of the Federation shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine-

(a)             matrimonial causes instituted under this Act; and

(b)            matrimonial causes (not being matrimonial causes to which section 101 of this Act applies) continued in accordance with the provisions o art IX of this Act, so however that jurisdiction under this Act in respect of matrimonial causes within this paragraph shall be restricted to the court in which the matrimonial cause was instituted,

(2)            Proceedings for a decree-

(a)             of dissolution of marriage; or

(b)             of nullity of a voidable marriage; or

(c)             of nullity of a void marriage; or

(d)             of judicial separation; or

(e)             of restitution of conjugal rights; or

(f)             of jactitation of marriage,

(3)            For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that a person domiciled in any State of the Federation is domiciled in Nigeria for the purposes of this Act and may institute proceedings under this Act in the High Court of any State whether or not he is domiciled in that particular State.

3.     (1)            Subject to the provisions of this section, a marriage that takes place after the commencement of this Act is void in any of the following cases but not otherwise, that is to say, where-

(a)             either of the parties is, at the time of the marriage, lawfully married to some other person;

(b)             the parties are within the prohibited degrees of consanguinity or, subject to section 4 of this Act, of affinity;

(c)            the marriage is not a valid marriage under the law of the place where the marriage takes place, by reason of a failure to comply with the requirements of the law of that place with respect to the form of solemnisation of marriages;

(d)             the consent of either of the parties is not a real consent because-

(i)             it was obtained by duress or fraud; or

(ii)            that party is mistaken as to identity of the other party, or as to the nature of the ceremony performed; or

(iii)           that party is mentally incapable of understand- ing the nature of the marriage contract;

(e)            either of the parties is not of marriageable age.

(2)            The prohibited degrees of consanguinity and affinity respectively on and after the commencement of this Act shall be those set out in the First Schedule to this Act, and none other.

(3)            A marriage solemnised before the commencement of this Act shall not be voidable on the grounds of consanguinity or affinity of the parties unless the parties were, at the time of the marriage, within one of the degrees of consanguinity or affinity set out in the First Schedule to this Act but nothing in this subsection shall make voidable a marriage that would not, apart from this provision, be voidable.

4.     (1)            Where two persons who are within the prohibited degrees of affinity wish to marry each other, they may apply, in writing, to a judge for permission to do so.

(2)            If the judge is satisfied that the circumstances of the particular case are so exceptional as to justify the granting of the permission sought @e, may, by order, permit the applicants to marry one another.

(3)            Where persons marry in pursuance of permission granted under this section, the validity of their marriage shall not be affected by the fact that they are within the prohibited degrees of affinity.

(4)            The President may arrange with the Governor of a State for the performance by judges of the High Court of that State of functions under this section.

(5)            In this section, "judge" means a judge in respect of whom an arrangement made under subsection (4) of this section is applicable.

(6)            Rules made under section 112 of this Act may make provision for the practice and procedure in and in connection with applications under this section, and may include provision for or in relation to the summoning of witnesses, the production of documents, the taking of evidence on oath or affirmation, and the payment of expenses of witnesses.

5.     (1)            Subject to this Act, a marriage that takes place after the commencement of this Act not being a marriage that is void, shall be voidable in the following cases but not otherwise, that is to say, where at the time of marriage-

(a)             either party to the marriage is incapable of consummating the marriage;

(b)             either party to the marriage is-

(i)             of unsound mind, or

(ii)             a mental defective, or

(iii)            subject to recurrent attacks of insanity or epilepsy;

(c)             either party to the marriage is suffering from a venereal disease in a communicable form; or

(d)             the wife is pregnant by a person other than the husband.

(2)            For the purposes of this section, "mental defective" means a person who, owing to an arrested or incomplete development of mind, whether arising from inherent causes or induced by disease or injury, requires oversight, care or control for his own protection or for the protection of others and is, by reason of that fact, unfitted for the responsibilities of marriage.

(2)            A provision of this Act shall not affect the validity or invalidity of a marriage where it would not be in accordance with the rules of private international law to apply that provision in relation to that marriage.

(a)             a deserted wife who was domiciled in Nigeria either immediately before her marriage or immediately before the desertion shall be deemed to be domiciled in Nigeria; and

(b)            a wife who is resident in Nigeria at the date of instituting proceedings under this Act and has been so resident for the period of three years immediately preceding that date shall be deemed to be domiciled in Nigeria at that date.

9.     (1)            Where it appears to a court in which a matrimonial cause has been instituted under this Act that a matrimonial cause between the parties to the marriage or purported marriage has been instituted in another court having jurisdiction under this Act, the court may in its discretion stay the matrimonial cause for such time as it thinks fit.

(2)            Where it appears to a court in which matrimonial cause has been instituted under this Act (including a matrimonial cause in relation to which subsection (1) of this section applies) that it is in the interests of justice that the matrimonial cause be dealt with in another court having jurisdiction to hear and determine that cause, the court may transfer the matrimonial cause to the other court.

(3)            The court may exercise its powers under this section at any time and at any stage either on application by any of the parties, or of its own motion.

(4)            Where a matrimonial cause is transferred from a court in pursuance of this section-

(a)             all documents filed of record in that court shall be transmitted by the registrar or other proper officer of that court to the registrar or other proper officer of the court to which the cause is transferred; and

(b)            the court to which the cause is transferred shall proceed as if the cause had been originally instituted in that court, and as if the same proceedings had been taken in that court as had been taken in the court from which the cause was transferred, but all subsequent proceedings shall be in accordance with the practice and procedure of the court to which the cause is transferred.

11.   (1)            It shall be the duty of the court in which a matrimonial cause has been instituted to give consideration, from time to time, to the possibility of a reconciliation of the parties to the marriage (unless the proceedings are of such a nature that it would not be appropriate to do so), and if at any time it appears to the judge constituting the court, either from the nature of the case, the evidence in the proceedings or the attitude of those parties, or of either of them, or of counsel, that there is a reasonable possibility of such a reconciliation, the judge may do all or any of the following, that is to say, he may-

(a)             adjourn the proceedings to afford those parties an opportunity of becoming reconciled or to enable anything to be done in accordance with either of the next two succeeding paragraphs;

(b)            with the consent of those parties, interview them in chambers, with or without counsel, as the judge thinks proper, with a view to effecting a reconciliation;

(c)            nominate a person with experience or training in marriage conciliation, or in special circumstances, some other suitable person, to endeavour with the consent of the parties, to effect a reconciliation.

(2)            If, not less than fourteen days after an adjournment under subsection (1) of this section has taken place, either of the parties to the marriage requests that the hearing be proceeded with, the judge shall resume the hearing, or the proceedings may be dealt with by another judge, as the case may require, as soon as practicable.

15.   (1)            A petition under this Act by a party to a marriage for a decree of dissolution of the marriage may be presented to the court by either party to the marriage upon the ground that the marriage has broken down irretrievably.

(2)            The court hearing a petition for a decree of dissolution of a marriage shall hold the marriage to have broken down irretrievably if, but only if, the petitioner satisfies the court of one or more of the following facts-

(a)             that the respondent has wilfully and persistently refused to consummate the marriage;

(b)            that since the marriage the Respondent has committed adultery and the petitioner finds it intolerable to live with the respondent;

(c)             that since the marriage the respondent has behaved in such a way that the petitioner cannot reasonably be expected to live with the respondent;

(d)            that the respondent has deserted the petitioner for a continuous period of at least one year immediately preceding the presentation of the petition;

(e)            that the parties to the marriage have lived apart for a continuous period of at least two years immediately preceding the presentation of the petition and the respondent does not object to a decree being granted;

(f)          that the parties to the marriage have lived apart for a continuous period of at least three years immediately preceding the presentation of the petition;

(g)            that the other party to the marriage has, for a period of not less than one year failed to comply with a decree or restitution of conjugal rights made under this Act;

(h)            that the other party to the marriage has been absent from the petitioner for such time and in such circumstances as to provide reasonable grounds for presuming that he or she is dead.

(3)            For the purpose of subsection (2) (e) and (f) of this section the parties to a marriage shall be treated as living apart unless they are living with each other in the same household.

(a)             since the marriage, the respondent has committed rape, sodomy, or bestiality; or

(b)             since the marriage, the respondent has, for a period of not less than two years-

(i)             been a habitual drunkard, or

(ii)            habitually been intoxicated by reason of taking or using to excess any sedative, narcotic or stimulating drug or preparation, or has, for a part or parts of such a period, been a habitual drunkard and has, for the other part or parts of the period, habitually been so intoxicated; or

(c)             since the marriage, the respondent has within a period not exceeding five years-

(i)             suffered frequent convictions for crime in respect of which the respondent has been sentenced in the aggregate to imprisonment for not less than three years, and

(ii)             habitually left the petitioner without reason- able means of support; or

(d)            since the marriage, the respondent has been in prison for a period of not less than three years after conviction for an offence punishable by death or imprisonment for life or for a period of five years or more, and is still in prison at the date of the petition; or

(e)            since the marriage and within a period of one year immediately preceding the date of the petition, the respondent has been convicted of-

(i)             having attempted to murder or unlawfully to kill the petitioner, or

(ii)            having committed an offence involving the intentional infliction of grievous harm or grievous hurt on the petitioner or the intent to inflict grievous harm or grievous hurt on the petitioner;

(f)             or the respondent has habitually and wilfully failed, throughout the period of two years immediately preceding the date of the petition, to pay maintenance for the petitioner-

(i)             ordered to be paid under an order of, or an order registered in, a court in the Federation, or

(ii)             agreed to be paid under an agreement between the parties to the marriage providing for their separation; or

(g)             the respondent-

(i)             is, at the date of the petition, of unsound mind and unlikely to recover, and

(ii)            since the marriage and within the period of six ears immediately preceding the date of the petition, as been confined for a period of, or for periods aggregating, not less than five years in an institution where persons may be confined for unsoundness of mind in accordance with law, or in more than one such institution.

(2)            Where a petition is based on the fact mentioned in section 15(2)(h) of this Act-

(a)             proof that, for a period of seven years immediately preceding the date of the petition, the other party to the marriage was continually absent from the petitioner and that the petitioner has no reason to believe that the other party was alive at any time within that period is sufficient to establish the fact in question, unless it is shown that the other party to the marriage was alive at a time within that period; and

(b)             a decree made pursuant to the petition shall be in the form of a decree of dissolution of marriage by reason of presumption of death.

17.   (1)           Where the petitioner alleges that the respondent has behaved in such a way that the petitioner cannot reasonably be  expected to live with him but the parties to the marriage have lived with each other for a period or periods after the date of the occurrence of the final incident relied on by the petitioner and held by the court to support his allegation, that fact shall be disregarded in determining for the purposes of section 15(2)(c) of this Act whether the petitioner cannot reasonably be expected to live with the respondent if the length of that period or of those periods together was six months or less.

(2)            In considering for the purposes of section 15(2) of this Act whether the period for which the respondent has deserted the petitioner or the period for which the parties to a marriage have lived apart has been continuous, no account shall be taken of any one period (not exceeding six months) or of any two or more periods (not exceeding six months in all) during which the parties resumed living with each other, but no period during which the parties lived with each other shall count as part of the period of desertion or of the period for which the parties to the marriage lived apart, as the case may be.

(3)            References in this section to the parties to a marriage living with each other shall be construed as references to their living with each other in the same household.

19.   (1)            Where husband and wife are parties to an agreement for separation, whether oral, in writing or constituted by conduct, the refusal by one of them, without reasonable justification, to comply with the other's bona fide request to resume cohabitation shall constitute, as from the date of the refusal, wilful desertion without just cause or excuse on the part of the party so refusing.

(2)            For the purposes of this section, "reasonable justification" means justification that is reasonable in all the circumstances, including the conduct of the other party to the marriage since the marriage, whether that conduct took place before or after the agreement for separation.

(a)             a person has been sentenced to imprisonment in respect of each of two or more crimes that, in the opinion of the court hearing the petition, arose substantially out of the same acts or omissions; and

(b)            the sentences were ordered to be served, in whole or in part, concurrently, then, in reckoning for the purposes of section 16(l) (c) of this Act the period for which that person has been sentenced in the aggregate, any period during which two or more of those sentences were to be served concurrently shall be taken into account once only.

(a)            the petitioner has committed adultery that has not been condoned by the respondent or, having been so condoned, has been revived;

(b)            the petitioner has wilfully deserted the respondent before the happening of the matters relied upon by the petitioner or, where those matters involve other matters occurring during, or extending over, a period, before the expiration of that period; or

(c)            the habits of the petitioner have, or the conduct of the petitioner has, conduced or contributed to the existence of the matters relied upon by the petitioner.

30.   (1)            Subject to this section, proceedings for a decree of dissolution of marriage shall not be instituted within two years after the date of the marriage except by leave of the court.

(2)            Nothing in this section shall apply to the institution of proceedings based on any of the matters specified in section 15(2) (a) or (b) or 16(l) (a) of this Act, or to the institution of proceedings for a decree of dissolution of marriage by way of cross-proceedings.

(3)            The court shall not grant leave under this section to institute proceedings except on the ground that to refuse to grant the leave would impose exceptional hardship on the applicant or that the case is one involving exceptional depravity on the part of the other party to the marriage.

(4)            In determining an application for leave to institute proceedings under this section, the court shall have regard to the interest of any children of the marriage, and to the question whether there is any reasonable probability of a reconciliation between the parties before the expiration of the period of two years after the date of the marriage.

(5)            Where, at the hearing of proceedings that have been instituted by leave of the court under this section, the court is satisfied that the leave was obtained by misrepresentation or concealment of material facts, the court may-

(a)             adjourn the hearing for such period as the court thinks fit; or

(b)             dismiss the petition on the ground that the leave was so obtained.

(6)            Where, in a case to which subsection (5) of this section applies, there is a cross-petition, if the court adjourns or dismisses the petition under that subsection, it shall also adjourn for the same period, or dismiss, as the case may be, the cross-petition; but if the court, having regard to the provisions of this section, thinks it proper to hear and determine the cross-petition, it may do so, and in that case it shall also hear and determine the petition.

(7)            The dismissal of a petition or a cross-petition under subsection (5) or (6) of this section shall not prejudice any subsequent proceedings on the same, or substantially the same, facts as those constituting the ground on which the dismissed petition or cross-petition was brought.

(8)            Nothing in this section shall prevent the institution of proceedings, after the period of two years from the date of the marriage, based upon matters which have occurred within that period.

(9)            In this section, a reference to the leave of the court shall be deemed to include a reference to leave granted by a court on appeal.

31.   (1)            A party to a marriage, whether husband or wife may, in a petition for a decree of dissolution of the marriage alleging that the other party to the marriage has committed adultery with a person or including that allegation, claim damages from that person on the ground that that person has committed adultery with the other party to the marriage and, subject to this section, the court may award damages accordingly.

(2)             The court shall not award damages against a person where the adultery of the respondent with that person has been condoned, whether subsequently revived or not, or if a decree of dissolution of the marriage based on the fact of the adultery of the respondent with that person, or on facts including that fact, is not made.

(3)            Damages shall not be awarded under this Act in respect of an act of adultery committed more than three years before the date of the petition.

(4)            The court may direct in what manner the damages awarded shall be paid or applied and may, if it thinks fit, direct that they shall be settled for the benefit of the respondent or the children of the marriage.

32.   (1)            Where, in a petition for a decree of dissolution of marriage or in an answer to such a petition, a party to the marriage is alleged to have committed adultery with a specified person, whether or not a decree of dissolution of marriage is sought on the basis of that allegation, that per- son shall, except as provided by rules of court, be made a party to the proceedings.

(2)            Where, in a petition for a decree of dissolution of marriage or in an answer to such a petition, a party to the Marriage is alleged to have committed rape or sodomy on or with a specified person, whether or not a decree of dissolution of marriage is sought on the basis of that allegation, that person shall, except as provided by rules of court, be served with notice that the allegation has been made and is thereupon entitled to intervene in the proceedings.

(3)            Where a person has been made a party to proceedings for a decree of dissolution of marriage in pursuance of subsection (1) above, the court may, on the application of that person, if it is satisfied after the close of the case for the party to the marriage who alleged the adultery that there is not sufficient evidence to establish that that person ommitted adultery with the other party to the marriage, dismiss that person from the proceedings.

(a)            of the arty suffering from the incapacity to consummate the marriage, on the ground that the marriage is voidable by virtue of section 5(l) (a) of this Act, unless that party was not aware of the existence of the incapacity at the time of the marriage;

(b)            of the party suffering from the disability of the disease, on the ground that the marriage is voidable by virtue of section 5(l) (b) or (c) of this Act; or

(c)            of the wife, on the ground that the marriage is voidable by virtue of section 5(l) (d) of this Act.

36.   (1)            A decree of nullity of marriage shall not be made on the ground that the marriage is voidable by virtue of section 5(l)(a) of this Act unless the court is satisfied that the incapacity to consummate the marriage also existed at the time when the hearing of the petition commenced and that-

(a)             the incapacity is not curable;

(b)             the respondent refuses to submit to such medical examination as the court considers necessary for the purpose of determining whether the incapacity is curable; or

(c)             the respondent refuses to submit to proper treatment for the purpose of curing the incapacity.

(2)            A decree of nullity of marriage shall not be made on the ground that the marriage is voidable by virtue of section 5(l) (a) of this Act where the court is of opinion that-

(a)             by reason of-

(i)             the petitioner's knowledge of the incapacity at the time of the marriage; or

(ii)            the conduct of the petitioner since the marriage; or

(iii)           the lapse of time; or (b) for any other reason,

(a)            the petitioner was at the time of the marriage, ignorant of the facts constituting the ground;

(b)            the petition was filed not later than twelve months after the date of the marriage; and

(c)            marital intercourse has not taken place with the con- sent of the petitioner since the petitioner discovered the existence of the facts constituting the ground.

38.   (1)            A decree of nullity under this Act of a voidable marriage shall annul the marriage from and including the date on which the decree, becomes absolute.

(2)            Without prejudice to the operation of subsection (1) of this section in other respects, a decree of nullity under this Act of a voidable marriage shall not render illegitimate a child of the parties born since, or legitimated during, the marriage.

42.   (1)            While a decree of judicial separation is in operation, either party to the marriage may bring proceedings in contract or in tort against the other party.

(2)            Where a party to a marriage dies intestate as to any property while a decree of judicial separation is in operation that property shall devolve as if that party had survived the other party to the marriage.

(3)            Where upon, or in consequence of, the making of a decree of judicial separation a husband is ordered to pay maintenance to his wife, and the maintenance is not duly paid, the husband shall be liable for necessaries supplied for the wife's use.

44.   (1)            A decree of judicial separation shall not prevent the institution by either party to the marriage of proceedings for a decree of dissolution of marriage.

(2)            Subject to the next succeeding subsection, the court may, in any proceedings for a decree of dissolution of marriage on the same, or substantially the same, facts as those on which a decree of judicial separation has been made, treat the decree of judicial separation as sufficient proof of the facts constituting the ground on which that decree was made.

(3)            The court shall not grant a decree of dissolution of marriage without receiving evidence by the petitioner in support of the petition.

(a)             that the petitioner sincerely desires conjugal rights to be rendered by the respondent and is willing to render conjugal rights to the respondent; and

(b)            that a written request for cohabitation, expressed in conciliatory language, was made to the respondent before the institution of the proceedings, or that there are special circumstances which justify the making of the decree notwithstanding that such a request was not made.

53.   (1)            A decree may be made, or refused, under this Part of this Act by reason of facts and circumstances not-withstanding that those facts and circumstances, or some of them, took place before the commencement of this Act or outside Nigeria.

(2)            For the purposes of this section, the provisions of sections 18, 19 and 20 of this Act shall be deemed to extend to matters which occurred before the commencement of this Act.

54.   (1)            Subject to the next succeeding subsection, a matrimonial cause of a kind referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of the definition of "matrimonial cause" in section 114(l) of this Act shall be instituted by petition.

(2)            A respondent may, in the answer to the petition, seek any decree or declaration that the respondent could have sought in a petition.

(3)            Proceedings of a kind referred to in paragraph (c) of the definition of "matrimonial cause" in section 114(l) of this Act that are in relation to proceedings under this Act for a decree or declaration of a kind referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of that definition-

(a)            may be instituted by the same petition as that by which the proceedings for that decree or declaration are instituted; and

(b)            except as permitted by the rules or by leave of the court, shall not be instituted in any other manner.

(4)            The court shall, so far as is practicable, hear and determine at the same time all proceedings instituted by the one petition.

57.   (1)            Where there are children of the marriage in relation to whom this section applies, the decree nisi shall not become absolute unless the court, by order, has declared-

(a)            that it is satisfied that proper arrangements in all the circumstances have been made for the welfare and, where appropriate, the advancement and education of those children; or

(b)            that there are special circumstances that the decree nisi should become absolute notwithstanding that the court is not satisfied that such arrangements have been made.

(2)            In this section, "children of the marriage in relation to whom this section applies" means-

(a)            the children of the marriage who are under the age of sixteen years at the date of the decree nisi; and

(b)            any children of the marriage in relation to whom the court has, in pursuance of the next succeeding subsection, ordered that this section shall apply.

(3)            The court may, in a particular case, if it is of opinion that there are special circumstances which justify its so doing, order that this section shall apply in relation to a child of the marriage who has attained the age of sixteen years at the date of the decree nisi.

58.   (1)            Subject to this section, where in relation to a decree nisi-

(a)            section 57 above applies, the decree nisi shall become absolute by force of this section at the expiration of-

(i)             a period of three months from the making of the decree; or

(ii)            a period of twenty eight days from the making of an order under subsection (1) of that section, whichever is the later; and

(b)            section 57 of this Act does not apply, the decree nisi shall become absolute by force o this section upon the expiration of a period of three months from the making of the decree.

(2)            Where a decree nisi has been made in any proceedings, the court of first instance (whether or not it made the decree), or a court in which an appeal has been instituted, may, either before or after it has disposed of the proceedings or appeal, and whether or not a previous order has been made under this subsection-

(a)            having regard to the possibility of an appeal or further appeal, make an order extending the period at the expiration of which the decree nisi will become absolute; or

(b)            if it is satisfied that there are special circumstances which justify its so doing, make an order reducing the period at the expiration of which the decree nisi will become absolute.

(3)            Where an appeal is instituted (whether or not it is the first appeal) before a decree nisi has become absolute, then, notwithstanding any order in force under the last preceding subsection at the time of the institution of the appeal, the decree nisi, unless reversed or rescinded, shall become absolute by force of this section-

(a)            at the expiration of a period of twenty-eight days from the day on which the appeal is determined or discontinued; or

(b)            on the day on which, in the particular circumstances, the decree would have become absolute under subsection (1) above if no appeal had been instituted, whichever is the later.

(4)            A decree nisi shall not become absolute by force of this section where either of the parties to the marriage has died.

(5)            In this section, "appeal", in relation to a decree nisi, means-

(a)            an appeal, application for leave to appeal or intervention, against or arising out of-

(i)             the decree nisi, or

(ii)            an order under the last preceding section in relation to the proceedings in which the decree nisi was made; or

(b)            an Application under section 60 or 61 of this Act for rescission of the decree or an appeal or application for leave to appeal arising out of such an application.

59.   (1)            Where a decree nisi becomes absolute, the registrar or other proper officer of the court by which the decree was made shall prepare and file a memorandum of the fact and of the date upon which the decree became absolute.

(2)            Where a decree nisi has become absolute, any person shall be entitled, on application to the registrar or other proper officer of the court by which the decree was made and on payment of the appropriate fee, to receive a certificate signed by the registrar or other proper officer that the decree nisi has become absolute, and a certificate given under this subsection shall in all courts and for all purposes be evidence of the matters specified in the certificate.

64.   (1)            The Attorney-General of the Federation may either generally or in relation to a matter or class of matters and either in relation to the whole of the Federation or to a State, by writing under his hand, delegate all or any of his powers and functions under this Part of this Act (except this power of delegation) to the person occupying from time to time, while the delegation is in force, the office of Attorney- General of a State, and a power or function so delegated may be exercised or performed by the delegate in accordance with the instrument of delegation.

(2)            A delegation under this section shall be revocable at will and the fact that any power or function has been delegated shall not prevent the exercise of the power or the performance of the function by the Attorney-General of the Federation.

(3)            More than one delegation may be in force under this section at the one time in relation to the whole of Nigeria or in relation to the same part of Nigeria; and a delegation in relation to the whole of Nigeria may be in force at the same time as a delegation in relation to parts of Nigeria.

65.   (1)            In proceedings under this Act for a decree of dissolution or nullity of marriage, judicial separation or restitution of conjugal rights, where a person applies to the court for leave to intervene in the proceedings and the court is satisfied that that person may be able to prove facts relevant to the proceedings that have not been, or may not be, but ought to be, made known to the court, the court may, at any time before the proceedings are finally disposed of, make an order entitling that person to intervene in the proceedings.

(2)            An order under this section may be made upon such conditions as the court thinks fit, including the giving of security for costs.

69.           In this Part of this Act,-

(a)            any child adopted since the marriage by the husband and wife or by either of them with the consent of the other;

(b)            any child of the husband and wife born before the marriage, whether legitimated by the marriage or not; and

(c)            any child of either the husband or wife (including an illegitimate child of either of them and a child adopted by either of them) if, at the relevant time, the child was ordinarily a member of the household of the husband and wife,

(a)            the time immediately preceding the time when the husband and wife ceased to live together or, if they have ceased on more than one occasion to live together, the time immediately preceding the time when they last ceased to live together before the institution of the proceedings; or

(b)            if the husband and wife were living together at the time when the proceedings were instituted, the time immediately preceding the institution of the proceedings.

70.   (1)            Subject to this section, the court may, in proceedings with respect to the maintenance of a party to a marriage, or of children of the marriage, other than proceedings for an order for maintenance pending the disposal of proceedings, make such order as it thinks proper, having regard to the means, earning capacity and conduct of the parties to the marriage and all other relevant circumstances.

(2)            Subject to this section and to rules of court, the court may, in proceedings for an order for the maintenance of a party to a marriage, or of children of the marriage, pending the disposal of proceedings, make such order as it thinks proper, having regard to the means, earnings capacity and conduct of the parties to the marriage and all other relevant circumstances.

(3)            The court may make an order for the maintenance of a party notwithstanding that a decree is or has been made against that party in the proceedings to which the proceedings with respect to maintenance are related.

(4)            The power of the court to make an order with respect to the maintenance of children of the marriage shall not be exercised for the benefit of a child who has attained the age of twenty-one years unless the court is of opinion that there are special circumstances that justify the making of such an order for the benefit of that child.

71.   (1)            In proceedings with respect to the custody guardianship, welfare, advancement or education of children of a marriage, the court shall regard the interests of those children as the paramount consideration; and subject thereto, the court may make such order in respect of those matters as it thinks proper.

(2)            The court may adjourn any proceedings within subsection (1) of this section until a report has been obtained from a welfare officer on such matters relevant to the proceedings as the court considers desirable, and any such report may thereafter be received in evidence.

(3)            In proceedings with respect to the custody of children of a marriage, the court may, if it is satisfied that it is desirable to do so, make an order placing the children, or such of them as it thinks fit, in the custody of a person other than a party to the marriage.

(4)            Where the court makes an order placing a child of a marriage in the custody of a party to the marriage, or of a person other than a party to the marriage, it may include in the order such provision as it thinks proper for access to the child by the other party to the marriage, or by the parties or a party to the marriage, as the case may be.

72.   (1)            The court may, in proceedings under this Act, by court in order require the parties to the marriage, or either of them, to make, for the benefit of all or any of the parties to, and the children of, the marriage, such a settlement of property to which the parties are, or either of them is, entitled (whether in possession or reversion) as the court considers just and equitable in the circumstances of the case.

(2)            The court may, in proceedings under this Act, make such order as the court considers just and equitable with respect to the application for the benefit of all or any of the parties to, and the children of, the marriage of the whole or part of property dealt with by ante-nuptial or post-nuptial settlements on the parties to the marriage, or either of them.

(3)            The power of the court to make orders of the kind referred to in this section shall not be exercised for the benefit of a child who has attained the age of twenty-one years unless the court is of opinion that there are special circumstances that justify the making of such an order for the benefit of that child.

73.   (1)            The court, in exercising its powers under this Part of this Act, may do any or all of the following, that is to say, it may-

(a)            order that a lump sum or a weekly, monthly, yearly or other periodic sum be paid;

(b)            order that a lump sum or a weekly, monthly, yearly or other periodic sum be secured;

(c)            when a periodic sum is ordered to be paid, order that its payment be wholly or partly secured in such manner as the court directs;

(d)            order that any necessary deed or instrument be executed, and that the documents of title be produced or such other things be done as are necessary to enable an order to be carried out effectively or to provide security for the due performance of an order;

(e)            appoint or remove trustees; order that payments be made direct to a party to the marriage, or to a trustee to be appointed or to a public officer or other authority for the benefit of a party to the marriage;

(g)            order that payment of maintenance in respect of a child be made to such persons or public officer or other authority as the court specifies;

(h)            make a permanent order, an order pending the disposal of proceedings, or an order for a fixed term or for a life or during joint lives, or until further order,

(i)            impose terms and conditions;

(j)            in relation to an order made :in respect of a matter referred to in section 70, 71 or 72 of this Act, whether made by the court or by another court, and whether made before or after the commencement of this Act,-

(i)             discharge the order if the party in whose favour it was made marries again or if there is any other just cause for so doing,

(ii)            modify the effect of the order or suspend its operation wholly or in part and either until further order or until a fixed time or the happening of some future event,

(iii)            revive wholly or in part an order suspended under sub-paragraph (ii) of this paragraph, or

(iv)            subject to subsection (2) of this section, vary the order so as to increase or decrease any amount ordered to be paid by the order;

(k)            sanction an agreement for the acceptance of a lump sum or periodic sums or other benefits in lieu of rights under an order made in respect of a matter referred to in section 70, 71 or 72 of this Act, or any right to seek such an order;

(i)             make any other order (whether or not of the same nature as those mentioned in the preceding paragraphs of this subsection, and whether or not it is in accordance with the practice under any other enactment or law before the commencement of this Act) which it thinks it is necessary to make to do justice;

(m)            include in its decree under another Part of this Act its order under this Part; and

(n)            subject to this Act, make an order under this Part of this Act at any time before or after the making of a decree under another Part thereof.

(2)            The court shall not make an order increasing or decreasing an amount ordered to be paid by an order unless it is satisfied-

(a)            that, since the order was made or last varied, the circumstances of the parties or either of them, or of any child for whose benefit the order was made, have changed to such an extent as to justify its so doing; or

(b)            that material facts were withheld from the court that made the order or from a court that varied the order or material evidence previously given before such a court was false.

(3)            The court shall not make an order increasing or decreasing-

(a)            the security for the payment of a periodic sum ordered to be paid; or

(b)            the amount of a lump sum or periodic sum ordered to be secured, unless it is satisfied that material facts were withheld from the court that made the order, or from a court that varied the order, or that material evidence given before such a court was false.

74.   (1)            Where a person who is directed by an order under this Part of this Act to execute a deed or instrument refuses or neglects to do so, the court may appoint an officer of the court or other person to execute the deed or instrument in his name and to do all acts and things necessary to give validity and operation to the deed or instrument.

(2)            The execution of the deed or instrument by the person so appointed shall have the same force and validity as if it had been executed by the person directed by the order to execute it.

(3)            Where a deed or instrument is executed pursuant to this section, the court may make such order as it thinks just as to the payment of the costs and expenses of and incidental to the preparation and execution of the deed or instrument.

75.   (1)            Save as provided by this section, the court shall not make an order under this Part of this Act where the petition for the principal relief has been dismissed.

(2)            Where-

(a)            the petition for the principal relief has been dismissed after a hearing on the merits; and

(b)            the court is satisfied that-

(i)             the proceedings for the principal relief were instituted in good faith to obtain that relief, and

(ii)            there is no reasonable likelihood of the parties becoming reconciled,

(3)            The court shall not make an order by virtue of subsection (2) of this section unless it has heard the proceedings for the order at the same time as, or immediately after, the proceedings for the principal relief.

(4)            In this section, "principal relief" means relief of a kind referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of the definition of matrimonial cause" in section 114(l) of this Act.

76.   (1)            Subject to section 77 of this Act, an appeal shall lie as of right from a decision of the High Court of a State in the exercise of its jurisdiction under this Act to the Court of Appeal and thence to the Supreme Court.

(2)            In this section, "decision" means any decree, order or other determination.

(a)            from any order made ex parte;

(b)            from any order relating only to costs;

(c)            from any order made with the consent of the parties; or

(d)            in the case of a party to proceedings for dissolution or nullity of marriage who, having had time and opportunity to appeal from any decree nisi in the proceedings, has not so appealed, from any decree absolute founded upon the decree nisi;

(a)            a maintenance order is registered in a court of summary jurisdiction under section 91(l) of this Act; and

(b)            in relation to the maintenance order-

(i)             that court makes any order or does any other thing by way of enforcement of the maintenance order; or

(ii)            that or another court of summary jurisdiction makes an attachment of earnings order under paragraph 4 of the Third Schedule to this Act,

(a)            is hereby invested with the necessary jurisdiction;

(b)            may confirm, vary or reverse any decree, judgment, order or other determination appealed from, order a re-hearing or make such other order as it considers proper to determine the real issue of the appeal; and

(c)            subject to this Part, shall otherwise have the same powers as it has in its ordinary appellate jurisdiction in civil proceedings.

81.   (1)            A decree of dissolution or nullity of marriage made before the commencement of this Act by a court in Nigeria or made after the commencement of this Act by such a court in accordance with the transitional provisions of this Act shall be recognised as valid in all States of the Federation.

(2)            A dissolution or annulment of a marriage effected in accordance with the law of a foreign country shall be recognised as valid in Nigeria where, at the date of the institution of the proceedings that resulted in the dissolution or annulment, the party at whose instance the dissolution or annulment was effected (or, if it was effected at the instance of both parties, either of those parties)-

(a)            in the case of the dissolution of a marriage or the annulment of a voidable marriage, was domiciled in that foreign country; or

(b)            in the case of the annulment of a void marriage, was domiciled or resident in that foreign country.

(3)            For the purposes of subsection (2) of this section-

(a)            where a dissolution of a marriage was effected in accordance with the law of a foreign country at the instance of a deserted wife who was domiciled in that foreign country either immediately before her marriage or immediately before the desertion, she shall be deemed to have been domiciled in that foreign country at the date of the institution of the proceedings that resulted in the dissolution; and

(b)            a wife who, at the date of the institution of the proceedings that resulted in a dissolution or annulment of her marriage in accordance with the law of a foreign country, was resident in that foreign country and had been so resident for a period of three years immediately preceding that date shall be deemed to have been domiciled in that foreign country at that date.

(4)            A dissolution of annulment of a marriage effected in accordance with the law of a foreign country, not being a dissolution or annulment to which subsection (2) of this section applies, shall be recognised as valid in Nigeria if its validity would have been recognised under the law of the foreign country in which, in the case of a dissolution, the parties were domiciled at the date of the dissolution or in which, in the case of an annulment, either party was domiciled at the date of the annulment.

(5)            Any dissolution or annulment of a marriage that would be recognised as valid under the rules of private inter- national law but to which none of the preceding provisions of this section applies shall be recognized as valid in Nigeria, and the operation of this subsection shall not be limited by any implication from those provisions.

(6)            For the purposes of this section, a court in Nigeria, in considering the validity of a dissolution or annulment effected under the law of a foreign country, may treat as proved any facts found by a court of the foreign country or otherwise established for the purposes of the law of the foreign country.

(7)            A dissolution or annulment of a marriage shall not be recognised as valid by virtue of subsection (2) or (4) of this section where, under the rules of private international law, recognition of its validity would be refused on the ground that a party to the marriage had been denied natural justice or that the dissolution or annulment had been obtained by fraud.

(8)            Subsections (2) to (7) of this section shall apply in relation to dissolutions and annulments effected, whether by decree legislation or otherwise, before or after the commencement of this Act.

(9)            In this section, "foreign country" means a country, or part of a country, outside the Federation.

82.   (1)            For the purposes of this Act, a matter of fact shall be taken to be proved if it is established to the reasonable satisfaction of the court.

(2)            Where a provision of this Act requires the court to be satisfied of the existence of any ground or fact or as to any other matter, it shall be sufficient if the court is reasonably satisfied of the existence of that ground or fact, or as to that other matter.

83.   (1)            Subject to this Part of this Act, all parties and the wives and husbands of all parties are competent and compellable witnesses in proceedings under this Act.

(2)            Subject to subsection (3) of this section, in proceedings under this Act, a husband is competent, but not compellable, to disclose communications made between him and his wife during the marriage, and a wife is competent, but not compellable, to disclose communications made between her and her husband during the marriage.

(3)            Where a husband and wife are both parties to proceedings under this Act each of them is competent and compellable to disclose communications made between them during the marriage.

(4)            Subsections (2) and (3) of this section shall apply to communications made before, as well as to communications made on or after, the commencement of this Act.

85.   (1)            A witness in proceedings under this Act who being a party, voluntarily gives evidence on his own behalf or, whether he is a party or not, is called by a party may be asked, and shall be bound to answer, a question the answer to which may show, or tend to show, adultery by or with the witness, where proof of that adultery would be material to the decision of the case.

(2)            Except as provided by subsection (1) of this section, a Witness in proceedings under this Act (whether a party to the proceedings or not) shall not be liable to be asked, or bound to answer, a question the answer to which may show, or tend to show, that the witness has committed adultery.

87.   (1)            In any proceedings under this Act-

(a)            evidence that a person, being a party to a marriage, was after the marriage convicted, whether in Nigeria or elsewhere, of the crime or offence of rape or any other crime or offence in which sexual intercourse with a person of the opposite sex is an element shall be evidence that the former person committed adultery with the person on whom the rape or other crime or offence was committed; and

(b)            evidence that a person, being a party to a marriage, was after the marriage convicted, whether in Nigeria or elsewhere, of the crime or offence of sodomy or bestiality shall be evidence that that person committed sodomy or bestiality.

(2)            In proceedings under this Act a certificate of the conviction of a person for a crime or offence, on a date specified in the certificate, by a court of a State of the Federation, being a certificate purporting to be signed by the registrar or other appropriate officer of that court, shall be evidence of the fact and date of the conviction and, if the certificate shows that a sentence of imprisonment was imposed, of the fact that that sentence was imposed.

88.   (1)            Subject to rules of court, a court having jurisdiction under this Act may enforce by attachment or other process an order made by it under this Act for payment of maintenance or costs or in respect of the custody of, or access, to children.

(2)            The court shall order the release from custody of a person who has been attached under this section upon being satisfied that that person has complied with the order in respect of which he was attached and may, at any time, if the court is satisfied that it is just and equitable to do so, order the release of such a person notwithstanding that he has not complied with that order.

(3)            Where attachment or other process remains unsatisfied for not less than six weeks, the person who has been attached under this section in consequence of his failure to comply with an order for the payment of maintenance or costs shall be deemed to be an insolvent person and may be kept in custody under the attachment for a period not exceeding six months after the expiry of the period of six weeks aforesaid, unless the court otherwise orders.

89.   (1)            A decree made under this Act by a court having jurisdiction under this Act may, in accordance with rules of court, be registered in another court having jurisdiction under this Act.

(2)            A decree registered in a court under this section may, subject to rules of court, be enforced as if it had been made by the court in which it is registered.

(3)            A reference in this Part of the Act to the court by which a decree was made shall be construed as including a reference to a court in which the decree is registered under this section.

90.   (1)            Where a decree made under this Act orders the payment of money to a person, any moneys payable under the decree may be recovered as a judgment debt in a court of competent jurisdiction.

(2)            A decree made under this Act may be enforced, by leave of the court by which it was made (or in which it is registered) and on such terms and conditions as the court thinks fit, against the estate of a party after that party's death.

91.   (1)            Where pursuant to this Act, a court has made an order for payment of maintenance, the order may be registered in accordance with rules of court in a court of summary jurisdiction of a State of the Federation, and an order so registered may, subject to rules of court, be enforced in the same manner as if it were an order for maintenance of a deserted wife made by the court of summary jurisdiction.

(2)            The several courts of summary jurisdiction of the States of the Federation are hereby authorised to do all things necessary for the purposes of subsection (1) of this section.

(a)            in the manner in which it could be enforced if this Act had not been made; or

96.           In this Part of this Act-

98.   (1)            Except as provided by this Part of this Act, the law to be applied, and the practice and procedure to be followed, in and in relation to pending proceedings, being proceedings for a decree of dissolution or nullity of marriage, or of judicial separation, shall be the same as if this Act had not been made.

(2)            Without prejudice to any power that the court has by virtue of subsection (1) of this section to amend or permit the amendment of a petition, the court may in any such proceedings, upon application by the petitioner and on such conditions, if any, as the court thinks fit, permit the petitioner to amend the petition so as to include a ground of relief provided by this Act and not already included in the petition; and where such a ground is so included, then, in relation to that ground, the provisions of this Act applicable in relation to that ground shall apply as if the proceedings had been instituted under this Act.

(3)            Notwithstanding section 114(4) of this Act, a reference in this Act to the date of the petition or the date of institution of -proceedings shall, in relation to a ground of relief included or sought to be included in a petition by virtue of the subsection (2) of this section, be read as a reference to the date on which the application for leave to amend the petition was instituted.

(4)            Where, in pending proceedings for a decree of dissolution of marriage, the facts and circumstances that have been established, whether before or after the commencement of this Act, by the petitioner in support of a ground included in the petition are such that they would have established a ground or grounds for the same relief under this Act if this Act had been in force at the date of the petition and the proceedings had been instituted under this Act, the bars to relief applicable in relation to the ground included in the petition shall be those that would be applicable in proceedings on the ground that would have been established under this Act, or, if more than one ground would have been established, such one of those grounds as most nearly corresponds to the ground included in the petition, and no other bars.

(5)            In the case of pending proceedings, being proceedings for a decree of nullity of marriage on the ground that the marriage is voidable by reason of the parties being within the prohibited degrees of consanguinity or affinity under the law of a State, a decree of nullity of the marriage shall not be made after the commencement of this Act if the parties were not at the time of the marriage within one of the degrees of consanguinity or affinity set out in the First Schedule to this Act.

(6)            A decree of dissolution or nullity of marriage or of judicial separation may be made in pending proceedings either-

(a)            on any basis of jurisdiction that would have been applicable to the proceedings if this Act had not

(b)            on any basis of jurisdiction applicable to proceedings under Part 11 of this Act for the same relief.

(7)            A reference in this section to a bar to relief shall be read as a reference to a bar to the granting of the relief sought, whether absolute or in the discretion of the court, other than a bar arising by virtue of section 30 of this Act.

(8)            In this section-

99.   (1)            Subject to section 101 of this Act, the provisions of sections 11 to 14, 18 to 20 (including in respect of sections 18 to 20 those sections as applying to proceedings for a decree of judicial separation by virtue of section 40), sections 33, 38, 41 to 45 and 53, sections 62 to 95, and sections 103 to 112 of this Act apply, so far as they are capable of application, to and in relation to pending proceedings, being proceedings for a decree of dissolution or nullity of marriage or judicial separation, as if those proceedings had been instituted under this Act and any decree made in the proceedings had been made in proceedings so instituted.

(2)            Subject to section 101 of this Act, the provisions of sections 56 to 61 of this Act shall apply to and in relation to pending proceedings, being proceedings for a decree of dissolution of marriage or nullity of a voidable marriage other than proceedings in which a decree nisi has been pronounced before the commencement of this Act, as if those pending proceedings had been instituted under this Act and any decree made in the proceedings had been made in proceedings so instituted.

101. (1)           Notwithstanding section 97 of this Act, where in any proceedings constituting a matrimonial cause a decree has been made before the commencement of this Act the following provisions of this subsection shall have effect as if it had not been made, that is to say-

(a)            any appeal in respect of that decree may be continued or instituted;

(b)            any new trial or rehearing ordered upon the hearing of such an appeal, or upon an appeal heard before the commencement of this Act, may be had and completed; and

(c)            any decree may be made upon any such appeal, new trial or rehearing, and, if a decree so made is a decree nisi, the decree may be made or become absolute.

(2)            In this section, "appeal" includes-

(a)            an application for leave or special leave to appeal;

(b)            an application for a new trial or a rehearing; and

(c)            an intervention.

102. (1)            Subject to this section, section 15(2) (g) of this Act shall be deemed to apply in relation to the decree of restitution of conjugal rights made by a court in Nigeria before the commencement of this Act in like manner as it applies in relation to decrees made under this Act.

(2)            Where there has been, whether before or after the commencement of this Act, a failure to comply with a decree referred to in subsection (1) of this section made before the commencement of this Act and that failure enabled, or would, if this Act had not been made, have enabled, the party in whose favour the decree of restitution of conjugal rights was made to institute proceedings for dissolution of marriage forthwith upon that failure, proceedings for dissolution of marriage may be instituted by that party under this Act as if the words "for a period of not less than one year" were omitted from the said section 15(2) (g) and as if section 30 of this Act had no application to proceedings on the ground specified in that paragraph.

(3)            For the purposes of proceedings brought by virtue of this section (other than proceedings under subsection (2) of this section), the requirements of a decree of restitution of conjugal rights made before the commencement of this Act shall, notwithstanding that any time limited by law for compliance with those requirements has expired, be deemed to have continued so long as the decree did not, by order of a competent court, cease to have effect.

103. (1)            Except to the extent to which rules of court make provision for proceedings or part of proceedings to be heard in chambers, the jurisdiction of a court under this Act shall, subject to the next succeeding subsection, be exercised in open court.

(2)            Where in proceedings under this Act the court is satisfied that there are special circumstances that make it desirable in the interests of the proper administration of justice that the proceedings or any part of the proceedings should not be heard in open court, the court may order that any persons not being parties to the proceedings or their legal advisers shall be excluded during the hearing of the proceedings or the part of the proceedings, as the case may be.

105. (1)            In proceedings under this Act, the court may set aside or restrain the making of an instrument or disposition by or on behalf of, or by direction or in the interest, of, a party, if it is made or proposed to be made to defeat an existing or anticipated order in those proceedings for costs, damages, maintenance or the making or variation of a settlement.

(2)            The court may order that any money or real or personal property dealt with by any such instrument or disposition may be taken in execution or charged with the payment of such sums for costs, damages or maintenance as the court directs, or that the proceeds of a sale shall be paid into court to abide its order.

(3)            The court shall have regard to the interests, and shall make any order proper for the protection, of a bona fide purchaser or other person interested.

(4)            A party or a person acting in collusion with a party may be ordered to pay the costs of any other party, or of a bona fide purchaser or other person interested, of and incidental to any such instrument or disposition and the setting aside or restraining of the instrument or disposition.

(5)            In this section, "disposition" includes a sale and a gift.

108.   (1)          Except as provided by this section, a person shall not in relation to any proceedings under this Act print or publish, or cause to be printed or published, any account of evidence in the proceedings, or any other account or particulars of the proceedings, other than-

(a)            the names, addresses and occupations of the parties and witnesses, and the name or names of the member or members of the court and of the legal advisers of the parties;

(b)            a concise statement of the nature and grounds of the proceedings and of the charges, defences and counter-charges in support of which evidence has been given;

(c)            submissions on any points of law arising in the course of the proceedings, and the decision of the court on those points; or

(d)            the judgment of the court and observations made by the court in giving judgment.

(3)            Any person who contravenes subsection (1) of this section, or prints or publishes, or causes to be printed or published, any matter, or part of a matter, in contravention of an order of a court under subsection (2) of this section shall be guilty of an offence punishable on conviction -

(a)            in the case of a first offence (or a second or subsequent offence if prosecuted summarily) by a fine not exceeding one thousand naira or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months; and

(b)            in the case of a second or subsequent offence, being an offence prosecuted otherwise than in a summary manner, by a fine not exceeding two thousand naira or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year.

(4)            Proceedings for an offence against this section shall not be commenced except by, or with the written consent of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

(5)            The preceding provisions of this section shall not apply to or in relation to-

(a)            the printing of any pleading, transcript of evidence or other document for use in connection with proceedings in any court or the communication of any such document to persons concerned in the proceedings;

(b)            the printing or publishing of a notice or report in pursuance of the direction of a court;

(c)            the printing or publishing of any publication bona fide intended primarily for the use of members of the legal or medical profession, being-

(i)            a separate volume or part of a series of law reports, or

(ii)            any other publication of a technical character, or

(d)            the printing or publishing of a photograph of any person, not being a photograph forming part of the evidence in proceedings under this Act.

(6)            In this section, "court" includes an officer of a court investigating a matter in accordance with rules of court and 66 judgment of the court" includes a report made to a court by such an officer.

111. (1)           The court may at any stage of proceedings under this Act, if it is satisfied that the proceedings are frivolous or vexatious, dismiss the proceedings.

 (2)          The court may at any stage of proceedings under this Act, if it is satisfied that the allegations made in respect of a party to the proceedings are frivolous or vexatious, order that that party be dismissed from the proceedings.

112.  (1)         The Chief Justice of Nigeria after consultation with the Chief Judges of the States and the President of the Courts of Appeal therein may make rules for or in relation to the practice and procedure of the courts (including courts of summary jurisdiction) having jurisdiction under this Act, or any of them, and without prejudice to the generality hereof, the rules may-

(a)            prescribe matters relating to the costs of proceedings and the assessment or taxation of those costs;

(b)            prescribe the court fees to be charged in respect of proceedings under this Act or in relation to declarations, affidavits, instruments, documents, searches or extracts;

(c)            authorise a court to refer to an officer of the court for investigation, report and recommendation claims or pplications for or relating to the custody of children or maintenance or any other matter before the court;

(d)            authorise an officer making an investigation referred to in paragraph (c) of this subsection to take evidence on oath or affirmation and to obtain and receive in evidence a report from a welfare officer, and provide for the summoning of witnesses before an officer making such an investigation for the purpose of giving evidence or producing books and documents;

(e)            regulate the procedure of a court upon receiving a report of an officer who has made an investigation referred to in paragraph (c) of this subsection;

(f)            authorise an officer of a court to perform and exercise on behalf of the court or otherwise, in relation to proceedings under this Act, functions and powers not involving the exercise of the judicial power of the Federation or of a State and enable the court to review the decision of that officer in relation to the performance or exercise of any function or power;

(g)            provide for proceedings in forma pauperis and the remission op court fees in the case of persons authorised to proceed in forma pauperis; and

(h)            prescribe matters incidental to the matters specified in the preceding paragraphs of this subsection.

(2)            Subject to subsection (3) of this section, the power of the appropriate authority under the law of a State to make rules of court in relation to the practice and procedure of courts of summary jurisdiction, the High Court of the State shall extend to the making for that State of rules of court for any matter in respect of which rules may be made under subsection (1) of this section.

(3)            Rules made under subsection (2) of this section shall be subject to rules made under subsection (1) of this section; and, if there is any inconsistency between rules made under those subsections, the rules made under subsection (1) of this section shall prevail and the rules made under subsection (2) of this section shall be void to the extent of the inconsistency.

(4)            Notwithstanding section 8 or any other provision of this Act, the rules of court for the time being in force in the High Court of Justice in England providing for the practice and procedure of that Court in respect of divorce and matrimonial causes shall, with necessary modifications, apply in Nigeria until such rules are expressly revoked by rules of court made under subsection (1) of this section, which said subsection shall be deemed to include power to make such a revocation.

(a)            that a decree, judgment, order or sentence of the High Court of a State of the Federation given, made or pronounced before the commencement of this Act in the exercise of jurisdiction invested or conferred upon it in respect of matrimonial causes and in force immediately before the commencement of this Act shall, notwithstanding the repeal of any legislation under which the decree, judgment, order or sentence was given, made or pronounced, continue to have effect throughout the Federation; and

(b)            that the validity of a decree, judgment, order or sentence given, made or pronounced by a court of competent jurisdiction in the Commonwealth (elsewhere than Nigeria) before the commencement of this Act by virtue of any enactment passed or made in respect of a marriage entered into during the war of 1939 - 45 and in force immediately before the commencement of this Act shall, if reciprocal arrangements are made for the recognition of the like decrees, judgments, orders or sentences given, made or pronounced in Nigeria in respect of any such marriages, be accorded in Nigeria the same recognition as if they were decrees, judgments, orders or sentences given, made or pronounced by a court of competent jurisdiction in Nigeria.

114.   (1)          In this Act unless the contrary intention appears -

(a)     proceedings for a decree of -

(i)             dissolution of marriage;

(ii)            nullity of marriage;

(iii)           judicial separation;

(iv)           restitution of conjugal rights; or

(v)            jactitation of marriage;

(b)            proceedings for a declaration of the validity of the dissolution or annulment of a marriage by decree or otherwise or of a decree of judicial separation, or for a declaration of the continued operation of a decree of judicial separation, or for an order discharging a decree of judicial separation;

(c)            proceedings with respect to the maintenance of a party to the proceedings, settlements, damages in respect of adultery, the custody or guardianship of infant children of the marriage or the maintenance, welfare, advancement or education of children of the marriage, being proceedings in relation to concurrent, pending or completed proceedings of a kind referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of this subsection, including proceedings of such a kind pending at, or completed before, the commencement of this Act;

(d)            any other proceedings (including proceedings with respect to the enforcement of a decree, the service of process or costs) in relation to concurrent, pending or completed proceedings of a kind referred to in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of this subsection, including proceedings of such a kind pending at, or completed before, the commencement of this Act; or

(e)            proceedings seeking leave to institute proceedings for a decree of dissolution of marriage or of judicial separation, or proceedings in relation to proceedings seeking such leave;

(a)            a person who is permanently or temporarily employed in the public service of the Federation; or

(b)            a person who is Permanently or temporarily employed in the public service of a State and whose services have been made available for the purposes of this Act in pursuance of an arrangement between the Federation and the State; or

(c)            a person nominated by an organisation undertaking child welfare activities

(2)            A reference in this Act to a court having jurisdiction under this Act or exercising jurisdiction under this Act shall be deemed not to include a reference to a court having jurisdiction under this Act or exercising jurisdiction under this Act by virtue only of section 91 or 92 of this Act or the Third Schedule to this Act.

(3)            In this Act, "this Division" occurring in a group of sections under an italicised cross-heading means that group of sections.

(4)            For the purposes of this Act, the date of a petition shall be taken to be the date on which the petition was filed in a court having jurisdiction under this Act.

(5)            For the purposes of this Act, a person shall be deemed to have been convicted of an offence if he has been convicted of that offence otherwise than by a court in its exercise of summary jurisdiction or on appeal from such a court.

(6)            Nothing in this Act shall have effect in relation to a marriage which is not a monogamous marriage or which is entered into in accordance with Muslim rites or with any customary law in force in Nigeria.

First Schedule

Section 3

1.             A.B., do swear by Almighty God (or solemnly and sincerely affirm and declare) that I will not disclose to any person any communication or admission made to me in my capacity as a marriage conciliator except in so far as it is necessary for me to do so for the proper discharge of my function as a marriage conciliator.

(a)            by way of wages or salary (including any fees, bonus, commission, overtime pay or other emoluments payable in addition to wages or salary);

(b)            by way of pension, including-

(i)             an annuity in respect of past services, whether or not the services were rendered to the person paying the annuity; and

(ii)            periodical payments by way of compensation for the loss, abolition or relinquishment, or any diminution in the emoluments, of any office or employment,

(a)            a reference to a person entitled to receive payments under a maintenance order is a reference to a person entitled to receive payments under the maintenance order either directly or through another person or for transmission to another person;

(b)            a reference to proceedings relating to an order includes a reference to proceedings in which the order may be made; and

(c)            a reference to costs incurred in proceedings relating to a maintenance order shall be read, in the case of a maintenance order made by the High Court of a State, as a reference to such costs as are included in an order for costs relating solely to that maintenance order.

(a)            the court that made the order; or

(b)            the court in which the order is for the time being registered under section 89 or 91 of this Act,

(a)             that, at the time when the application was made, there was due under the maintenance order and unpaid an amount equal to not less than -

(i)             four payments in the case of an order for weekly payments; or

(ii)            two payments in any other case; or

(b)            that the defendant has wilfully and persistently failed to comply with the requirements of the order,

(a)            securing payment of the sums from time to time failing due under the maintenance order; and

(b)            securing payment within a reasonable time of any sums already due and unpaid under the maintenance order and any costs incurred in proceedings relating to the maintenance order that are payable by the defendant.

(a)            the protected earnings of the defendant; and

(b)            so much of any amount by which the net earnings that became payable on any previous pay-day were less than the protected earnings for the purposes of that pay-day as has not been made good on any other previous pay-day,

(a)            upon the issuing or making of a writ, order or warrant of commitment or attachment for the enforcement of the maintenance order in relation to which the attachment of earnings order applies; or

(b)            subject to the next succeeding paragraph, upon the discharge or variation of that maintenance order.

(a)            shall comply with those orders according to the respective dates on which they came into force and shall disregard any order until an earlier order has been complied with; and

(b)            shall comply with any order as if the earnings to which the order relates were the residue of the defendant s earnings after the making of any payment under any earlier order.

(a)            order the defendant to furnish to the court, within a specified period, a statement signed by the defendant specifying-

(i)             the name and address of his employer or, if he has more employers than one, of each of his employers;

(ii)             particulars as to the defendant's earnings; and

(iii)            such particulars as are necessary to enable the defendant to be identified by any of his employers; and

(b)            order any person who appears to the court to be an employer of the defendant to give to the court, within a specified period a statement signed by him or on his behalf, containing such particulars as are specified in the order of all earnings of the defendant that became payable by the person during a specified period.

28.   (1)            A person to whom an attachment of earnings order is directed who makes an application under paragraph 27 above shall not incur any liability for failing to comply with the order with respect to any payments of the class or description specified in the application that are made by him to the defendant while the application, or any appeal from a determination made on the application, is pending.

(2)            The foregoing sub-paragraph shall not apply in respect of any payment made after the application has been withdrawn or any appeal from a determination made on the application has been abandoned.

32.   (1)            Any person who-

(a)            fails to comply with any requirement of this Schedule, or of an order under this Schedule, that is applicable to him; or

(b)            in any statement or notice furnished to a court under this Schedule or in compliance with an order made under this Schedule makes a statement that he knows to be false or misleading in a material particular; or

(c)            recklessly furnishes such a statement or notice that is false or misleading in a material particular,

(2)             It shall be a defence if a person charged with an offence arising under sub-paragraph (1) (a) above proves that he took all reasonable steps to comply with the requirement or order.