By Bayero Ade
The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to issue international passports to qualified applicants within six weeks, as required by Section 9(4) of the Immigration Act 2015.
The ruling, delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite, was in response to a lawsuit filed by Benita Ngozi Ezumezu, who complained that despite meeting all requirements for a Nigerian passport on October 6, 2022, the NIS failed to provide her passport after 14 weeks.
In his December 4 judgment, Justice Nwite found the NIS and the Minister of Interior guilty of violating Ezumezu’s right to freedom of movement and failing to comply with statutory obligations. The court awarded N3 million in damages against the respondents and ordered the NIS to immediately issue Ezumezu’s passport. The judge emphasized the need for government agencies to follow legally mandated timelines.
Citizens’ Common (CC), a civil society organization and Ezumezu’s employer, welcomed the court’s decision. The group’s Chief Executive, Olalekan Oshunkoya, praised the ruling as a breakthrough for Nigerians seeking efficient service delivery from public institutions.
“This judgment highlights the struggles many Nigerians face when dealing with government agencies,” Oshunkoya said. “It reaffirms the Judiciary’s role in protecting citizens’ rights and ensuring accountability in public service.”
Oshunkoya added that the N3 million damages send a strong message to public institutions about the consequences of inefficiency. He called for improved service delivery across all government agencies and encouraged citizens to take legal action whenever their rights are violated.
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