Section 214: Service of process in maintenance proceedings

(1) A process to be served on a person subject to service law under this Act, (in this section referred to as "the defendant") in connection with proceedings for an order of a court in Nigeria as is mentioned in subsection (1) of section 210 of this Act, or for the variation, revocation or revival of that order, shall be deemed to be duly served on him if served either on him or his commanding officer, and may, without prejudice to any other method of service, be so served by registered post.
(2) Where a process as is mentioned in subsection (1) of this section is served in Nigeria and the defendant is required to appear in person at the hearing, then, if his commanding officer certifies to the court by which the process was issued that the defendant is under orders for active service out of Nigeria and that in the commanding officer's opinion it would not be possible for the defendant to attend the hearing and return in time to embark for that service, the service of the process shall be deemed not to have been effected.
(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed as enabling process to be served in connection with proceedings in a court of law unless the defendant is within Nigeria and, in the opinion of the commanding officer, he will be available for the hearing.