CROSS RIVER – LIMITATION OF DOWRY LAW

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LAWS OF CROSS RIVER STATE

CHAPTER L15

LIMITATION OF DOWRY LAW

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

SECTION

1. Dowry and incidental expenses limited to ₦60.
2. Offences in connection with excess dowry and incidental expenses.
3. Limitation on jurisdiction of courts.
4. Penalty.
5. Interpretation.
6. Short title.

CHAPTER L15

LIMITATION OF DOWRY LAW

A Law to limit Gifts and Payments on account of Marriage and for purposes connected therewith.

(1st July, 1956)

[Commencement]

1. Dowry and incidental expenses limited to ₦60

Notwithstanding any custom or practice—

(a)     where no incidental expenses of a marriage are paid by the husband or intended husband or on his behalf dowry shall not exceed in amount or value the sum of sixty naira;

(b)     where incidental expenses of a marriage are paid by the husband or intended husband or on his behalf dowry shall not exceed in amount or value the sum of fifty naira and the incidental expenses aforesaid shall not exceed in amount or value the sum of ten naira.

2. Offences in connection with excess dowry and incidental expenses

Any person who—

(a)     asks, receives, or obtains, or agrees or attempts to receive or obtain, for himself or any other person, any dowry in excess of the maximum prescribed in section 3; or

(b)     gives, or pays, or promises or offers to give or pay to any person any dowry in excess of the maximum prescribed in section 3; or

(c)     incurs, or promises or offers to incur or attempts to incur any incidental expenses of a marriage in excess of the maximum prescribed in section 3, shall be guilty of an offence.

3. Limitation on jurisdiction of courts

No court shall—

(a)     entertain or continue any suit or proceeding; or

(b)     make any decree or order; or

(c)     execute wholly or partially any decree or order, if the claim involved in such suit or proceeding or if the passing of the decree or order or if such execution would be in any way contrary to any provision of this Law.

4. Penalty

Any person who is guilty of an offence under the provisions of section 2 shall be liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred naira or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months.

5. Interpretation

In this Law—

“court” means the High Court, a magistrate’s court and a customary court;

“dowry” means any gift or payment, in money, natural produce, brass rods, cowries or in any other kind of property whatsoever, to a parent or guardian of a female person on account of a marriage of that person which is intended or have taken place;

“incidental expenses of a marriage” means customary gifts or payments, other than dowry, made or incurred, on account of a marriage, before, at the time of, or after that marriage;

“marriage” means any marriage other than a marriage contracted under the Marriage Act;

“value” means the market value in the locality in which the marriage is intended to take place or has taken place.

6. Short title

This Law may be cited as the Limitation of Dowry Law.

CHAPTER L15

LIMITATION OF DOWRY LAW

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION

No Subsidiary Legislation