Journal of Law and Criminal Justice

Bigamy in a Polygamous Society: A Critical Appraisal of the Law of Bigamy in Nigeria
C.E Ochem, C.T. Emejuru

Abstract
This paper examined bigamy in a polygamous society and its law in Nigeria. It revealed that traditionally, Nigeria is a polygamous society and in that light the offence of bigamy was not known. It revealed again that the offence was imported into Nigeria as a received English Law. It reviewed further that upon declaration of a marriage to be bigamous, its implication is that the marriage is void and of no effect. The paper observed that even though a marriage is declared to be void by reason of bigamy the children born to the marriage before the declaration of bigamy by the court are legitimate children and are therefore not affected by the declaration.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/jlcj.v5n2a9