Concerns over the recent court marriage of popular TikToker Peller and his wife, Jarvis, have continued to generate debate on social media, with some Nigerians claiming that marrying under the Marriage Act could expose a man’s property to his spouse.
Reacting to the growing discussions, lawyer and marriage advocate Stella Justice dismissed the claims, describing them as misconceptions rooted in a poor understanding of Nigerian marriage laws.
She maintained that a statutory marriage is designed to protect the rights of both husband and wife, not to deprive either party of their property.
Court marriage is not a trap, lawyer says
Addressing those questioning Peller’s decision to have a court wedding, Stella Justice wrote: “Peller why?
‘Why did Peller agree to a court marriage? He wants to lose his property!’
I saw comments like this and couldn’t help but laugh.
The biggest fear some people have about registry (court) marriage is because they don’t know what the law actually says.
A statutory marriage is not a trap for men.
It is a legal institution that protects the rights of both husband and wife.”
She stressed that getting married under the Marriage Act does not automatically transfer a husband’s assets to his wife.
According to her, ownership of property is not determined simply because a couple is legally married.
Property disputes are decided by law
The lawyer further explained that if a statutory marriage eventually ends, any dispute over property is settled based on the law and the specific facts surrounding the case.
She said: “No, the law does not automatically hand over a man’s property to his wife simply because they got married.
If a marriage later breaks down, issues relating to property are determined according to the law and the facts of the case, not gossip, emotions or social media opinions.”
Stella Justice urged Nigerians to seek proper legal knowledge instead of relying on rumours and online opinions when discussing court marriage.
Nigerians urged to understand the law
She questioned why many people continue to criticise Peller for marrying under the Act without first understanding the legal implications.
The lawyer concluded: “So before you call Peller ‘mumu’ for marrying under the Act, first ask yourself:
Do you really know what the law says about court marriage?
Many people fear court marriage not because it is dangerous, but because they have never taken time to understand it.
Court marriage is the best, my brother.”
