31/10/2025
Do you know that some marriages are rooted in fraud and deceit — where there’s no genuine love or pure intention? How can a union built on lies and manipulation stand the test of time?
Here are a few relevant sections of Nigerian law concerning marriages entered into with false pretences, fraud, or betrayal of the partner — and the possible punishments:
• Under the Marriage Act, Section 41 states that:
“Whoever endeavours to prevent a marriage by pretence that his consent thereto is required by law, or that any person whose consent is so required does not consent, or that there is any legal impediment to the performing of such marriage, shall, if he does so knowing that such pretence is false … be liable to imprisonment for two years.” 
• Under the Criminal Code Act (applicable in parts of Nigeria), Section 159 (“Fraudulent pretence of marriage”) provides:
“Any person who willfully and by fraud causes any woman who is not lawfully married to him to believe that she is lawfully married to him … is guilty of a felony, and is liable to imprisonment for ten years.” 
• Also, Section 33(1) of the Marriage Act states:
“No marriage in Nigeria shall be valid where either of the parties thereto at the time of the celebration of such marriage is married by native law or custom to any person other than the person with whom such marriage is had.” And Section 39 makes provision that one who marries a person he knows to be married to another is liable to imprisonment for five years. 
Here are several Nigerian laws that govern marriage, including those addressing fraud, deception and invalid marriages — including their relevant sections and punishments. Note: Some provisions apply nationally, others vary by state or by whether customary/Islamic law applies.
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1. Marriage Act (Nigeria)
• Section 44: “Whoever personates any other person in marriage, or marries under a false name or description, with intent to deceive the other party to the marriage, shall be liable to imprisonment for five years.” 
• Section 45: “Whoever goes through the ceremony of marriage, or any ceremony which he or she represents to be a ceremony of marriage, knowing that the marriage is void on any ground, and that the other person believes it to be valid, shall be liable to imprisonment…” (5 years in many sources) 
• Section 33(1): “No marriage in Nigeria shall be valid where either of the parties thereto … is married by native law or custom to any person other than the person with whom such marriage is had.” A marriage in such situation is void. 
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2. Criminal Code Act / Penal Code Act (Applicable in parts of Nigeria)
• Under the Penal Code (Northern Nigeria): Section 384: “Whoever, having a husband or wife living, marries in a case in which such marriage is void … shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years.” 
• Penal Code Section 385: “Whoever violates section 384 … having concealed the fact of the former marriage … shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years and a fine.” 
• Marriage registration / false document offences: Under Criminal Code Chapters for Southern Nigeria: Section 478: “Sending false certificate of marriage to registrar … guilty of a felony and liable to imprisonment for seven years.” 
• Section 479: “False statements for the purpose of registers of births, deaths and marriages … imprisoned up to three years.” 
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3. State-specific / Customary Law Considerations
• Some states in Nigeria may have domesticated laws such as the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (2015) which covers domestic violence, but not specifically marriage fraud. 
• Some states may have modified or decriminalised certain provisions (for example, bigamy in Lagos State has been decriminalised in practice though legal risk remains) 
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✅ Summary for your query
• Yes — there are statutory provisions in Nigeria that prohibit marriages entered into with false names, fake ceremonies, concealment of prior marriage, or deception of a party.
• Punishments vary by offence: imprisonment for 3 years, 5 years, 7 years, or even up to 10 years, depending on the exact section and offence.
• These laws apply nationwide but also depend on region (southern vs northern Nigerian law), whether the marriage is statutory, customary or under Islamic law, and whether the state has specific modifications.
• If someone enters a marriage under deceit (false name, fake ceremony, concealment of prior marriage) they may be subject to criminal prosecution plus the marriage may be declared void or voidable under civil law.
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