The 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 eligible applicants within six weeks, as stipulated by Section 9(4) of the Immigration Act 2015.
The judgment, delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite on December 4, 2024, came after a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by a Nigerian, Benita Ngozi Ezumezu. The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/75/2023, accused the NIS and the Interior Minister of unjustly delaying the issuance of her international passport despite fulfilling all requirements.
Benita had applied for her passport on October 6, 2022, but 14 weeks later, it remained unissued. Justice Nwite dismissed the respondents’ defense, ruled in favor of Benita, and awarded N3 million in damages, declaring the delay a violation of her fundamental right to freedom of movement.
“As of October 6, 2022, the applicant had fulfilled all the requirements and was qualified to be issued a passport within six weeks,” Justice Nwite stated. He ordered the NIS to immediately issue the passport to Benita as required by law.
Citizens’ Common (CC), a civil society organization where Benita works, hailed the ruling as a victory for Nigerians. The organization’s Chief Executive, Olalekan Oshunkoya, described the judgment as a significant step toward holding public service providers accountable.
“Our interest in Benita’s case goes beyond her role as our staff member. It represents the experiences of countless Nigerians who face unnecessary delays and frustrations from the NIS and other government agencies,” Oshunkoya said.
He acknowledged recent efforts to improve service delivery but emphasized that the case highlights persistent issues with inefficiency and poor treatment of citizens.
“The award of N3 million in damages reminds all Nigerians that legal action can be a powerful tool against poor service delivery,” Oshunkoya added. “This landmark ruling reinforces the fundamental right of every Nigerian to freedom of movement and quality service.”
