Immigration remains a global issue, driven by various factors such as tourism, family visits, employment, study, and the search for greener pastures. In recent years, Nigeria has witnessed an unprecedented wave of migration popularly referred to as “japa” reflecting the growing desire to seek better opportunities abroad.
One of the most common routes to relocation is marriage, especially to a citizen of a foreign country. It is commonly perceived as one of the easiest or fastest ways to secure citizenship or residency in another country. Most countries only recognize Monogamous Marriages, and their immigration authorities place strict emphasis on this. This means that a person must either never have been married or be legally divorced before contracting a new marriage. In the latter case, a valid divorce decree is required as evidence of eligibility.
Unfortunately, in pursuing this option, many migrants have, whether intentionally or otherwise, relied on fake divorce decrees to remarry abroad. This has led to increased scrutiny by foreign authorities, jeopardizing immigration applications, revoking citizenship or residency already granted, and in some cases resulting in criminal prosecution and deportation. This article aims to examine divorce in Nigeria, why authenticity matters, and the implications of relying on fraudulent documents.
