JUST IN: Court orders interior minister, immigration to issue passports within six weeks

A Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to ensure that international passports are issued to applicants who meet all requirements within six weeks, in compliance with Section 9(4) of the Immigration Act 2015.

The ruling, delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite, came in response to a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by an aggrieved Nigerian, Benita Ngozi Ezumezu.

Ezumezu had claimed that despite fulfilling all requirements for obtaining a Nigerian passport on October 6, 2022, the NIS failed to issue her passport 14 weeks later.

Justice Nwite, in his December 4 judgment, upheld Ezumezu’s claims, rejecting the respondents’ arguments.

He awarded N3 million in damages against the NIS and the Minister of Interior for violating Ezumezu’s rights to freedom of movement and contravening Section 9(4) of the Immigration Act.

The court also issued a directive mandating the NIS to issue Ezumezu her passport immediately, emphasizing that government agencies must adhere to statutory timelines.

Ezumezu’s employer, Citizens’ Common (CC), a civil society group, lauded the ruling as a significant victory for Nigerians seeking efficient service delivery from government agencies.

Olalekan Oshunkoya, Chief Executive of CC, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “This landmark judgment highlights the persistent challenges Nigerians face when accessing essential services from government ministries, departments, and agencies.

“We commend the Judiciary for affirming the rights of citizens to timely and quality service delivery.”

Oshunkoya also noted that the award of damages sends a strong message to public service providers about the consequences of inefficiency.

He emphasized the need for continuous improvements in service delivery across all government agencies, urging citizens to seek legal remedies when their rights are violated.