TELL Magazine

…Fails to Show up to Join Couple.

For leaving a couple stranded on their wedding day, May 28, 2021, the federal government on Friday relieved the Registrar of the Benin Federal Marriage Registry, Ozurunoye Chukwuma, of his duties. A disciplinary action has also been instituted against Chukwuma for negligence of duties.

Recall that some sections of the media had reported the plight of the couple, Abel Ugiagbe, and his bride, Marian Obire, who waited in vain for Chukwuma for long hours with their families to be joined together as husband and wife but he never showed up nor responded to their calls and messages.

In a statement by the Director, Citizenship and Business, M. Soyinka-Onijala, on behalf of Dr. Shuaib Belgore, Permanent Secretary/ Principal Registrar of Marriages in Nigeria, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Chukwuma was also accused of absence from duties without leave.

Belgore directed the immediate investigation into the incident and ordered that Chukwuma be relieved of his duties as a Marriage Registrar in Benin Federal Marriage Registry.
He also apologised to the couple over the incident.

The statement, titled ‘FG institutes disciplinary action against Registrar of Benin Marriage Registry’ says “The Federal Government has taken immediate disciplinary action against Mr. Ozuruonye Chukwuma, the Registrar of Benin Federal Marriage Registry, due to what it termed gross negligence of duties, absence from duties without leave, and acts unbecoming of a public officer – all in negation of the Public Service Rules.

“The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, and Principal Registrar of Marriages in Nigeria, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, said the decision was in line with the ethics of the civil service which encourages diligence and discipline for public officers.

“This will serve as deterrent to others who are careless with their official duties”.

Belgore further directed that Chukwuma be recalled to the headquarters in Abuja immediately, pending the conclusion of investigation.

Belgore conveyed the warning by the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, to all Federal Marriage Registrars who handle their official duties with levity, to desist from such acts or be ready to face disciplinary actions.