₦airaland Forum

Annulment of Marriage or Divorce: Which One Is Best for Me?

Over the years, I have been asked this question many times: “Lawyer, should I go for annulment of marriage or divorce?”

The truth is that many people do not know the difference. They enter court thinking they are on the right path, only to discover after many years that they chose the wrong route. It is like setting out for Sokoto but mistakenly entering a bus headed to Anambra. By the time you arrive, you realise you are in the wrong place entirely. You would not like to make such an expensive mistake, would you?

Let me help you set the record straight.

What is Annulment of Marriage?

Imagine a man who buys land, secures the approvals, and builds a house. The neighbours clap for him and call him a proud homeowner. Then one day, the housing authority arrives and declares: “This house does not exist in law.” They pull it down and restore the land to its original state.

That is annulment of marriage. Even though two people have married, paid bride price, gone to church, or even conducted a statutory marriage, the law later says the marriage never legally existed. Why? Because of a defect, such as one party already being married, or marrying within prohibited degrees of relationship, or failure to meet conditions laid down by law.

In simple terms, annulment wipes away the marriage as though it never happened.

What is Divorce?

Divorce is different. Divorce applies where the marriage is valid and recognised by law, but the relationship has broken down. The court is then asked to dissolve that valid marriage. So annulment declares “there was never a marriage,” while divorce says “this valid marriage has come to an end.”

Which One is Best for You?

The answer depends on your situation:

If there is a defect at the root of the marriage, annulment is the right option.

If the marriage is valid but no longer working, divorce is the proper path.

This is why getting legal advice early is important. Choosing the wrong route can waste years of your life and your resources.

Kindly stay tuned for the next publication in this series: Grounds for Annulment of Marriage in Nigeria.


I am Ebelechukwu Aroh-Nwoka, your family and property lawyer. I help you protect what you cannot afford to lose- your land, your legacy, and your family.

#arohnwokaebelechukwu #ebelechukwulawfirm #familylawattorney #familylawyer

Please can I contact you on whatsapp? I need your directions

She hardly responds to mails. Some of us would like to discuss the peculiarities of our situation with her in private.

Dogalmighty17:
She hardly responds to mails. Some of us would like to discuss the peculiarities of our situation with her in private.

Lawyer is looking for money. Prove to her that money is involved and see🤪

You can reach me on WhatsApp+2349045532566

Dogalmighty17:
She hardly responds to mails. Some of us would like to discuss the peculiarities of our situation with her in private.

You can reach out to me via my WhatsApp -+2349045532566

quote author=Dogalmighty17 post=136997344]She hardly responds to mails. Some of us would like to discuss the peculiarities of our situation with her in private.[/quote]

Yes, 09045532566

quote author=Tfinal post=136996295]Please can I contact you on whatsapp? I need your directions[/quote]