Court Orders Interior Minister, NIS To Issue Passports Within Six Weeks

The Federal High Court in Abuja has mandated the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to ensure the issuance of international passports within six weeks to applicants who meet all stipulated requirements.

Naija News understands that this directive aligns with Section 9(4) of the Immigration Act 2015.

The ruling was delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite in a case marked FHC/ABJ/CS/75/2023, filed by a Nigerian citizen, Benita Ngozi Ezumezu.

The NIS and the Minister of Interior were listed as respondents in the suit.

Benita claimed she met all the necessary requirements for a Nigerian passport on October 6, 2022. However, 14 weeks later, she was yet to receive her passport, prompting her to seek legal redress.

In a landmark judgment on December 4, Justice Nwite ruled in favour of Benita, dismissing the respondents’ arguments and granting all her prayers.

The court declared that Benita had fulfilled all obligations to be issued a passport by October 6, 2022, and that the NIS’s failure to issue it within six weeks was a violation of Section 9(4) of the Immigration Act 2015 and her right to freedom of movement.

The court further directed the NIS to issue Benita’s passport immediately, as required by the Immigration Act. Additionally, Justice Nwite awarded N3 million in general damages against the NIS and the Minister of Interior for violating Benita’s fundamental rights.