Court wedding doesn’t bar Muslim men from taking another wife — Lawyer

A Nigerian lawyer, Waliu Taofik, has said a statutory marriage conducted under the Marriage Act does not prevent a Muslim man from marrying another Muslim woman under Islamic law.

Taofik made the clarification in a post on his X account following online debates sparked by the recent civil wedding of popular content creator Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller, and his partner, Amadou Elizabeth Aminata, also known as Jarvis.

The couple’s court wedding, held on Wednesday, generated widespread discussions on social media, with many users questioning whether the union legally prevents Peller, a Muslim, from taking another wife in the future.

Others also speculated that Jarvis would automatically be entitled to half of Peller’s wealth if the marriage ended in divorce.

Responding to the claims, Taofik argued that Nigerian law permits a Muslim man who has contracted a marriage under the Marriage Act to subsequently marry another Muslim woman in accordance with Islamic rites.

“Peller, I am pleased to inform you that as a Muslim man that married under the Act, you’re allowed under the law to get married to another woman (a Muslim woman) under Islamic law (Nikkah). So, the so-called ‘registry’ or ‘court’ marriage does not affect Muslim men,” he wrote.

His comments have reignited discussions on the interaction between statutory and Islamic marriage laws in Nigeria, particularly regarding issues of polygamy and marital rights.

Peller and Jarvis exchanged vows at a civil ceremony attended by family members and close associates before signing the marriage register.

The wedding comes ahead of the couple’s white wedding scheduled for August 1, 2026.

Earlier this month, the pair announced their wedding date with a cinematic video shared on social media before releasing their official pre-wedding photographs.

Before the civil ceremony, Peller had completed the traditional marriage rites in Benin City, Edo State, where he met Jarvis’ family and fulfilled customary marriage requirements, including the payment of her bride price.

The couple have built a large following across social media through comedy skits, TikTok livestreams and relationship-themed content, making them one of Nigeria’s most recognisable influencer couples.