Court Orders NIS to Pay N3 Million in Damages for Passport Delay

 

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to pay N3 million in damages to Benita Ezumezu for failing to issue her international passport within the stipulated six-week timeline. The judgment also directed the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the NIS to ensure that all applicants meeting the necessary requirements are issued passports within the legally mandated six-week period, in accordance with Section 9(4) of the Immigration Act 2015.

The ruling was delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite in response to a fundamental human rights lawsuit filed by Ezumezu, identified as case FHC/ABJ/CS/75. Ezumezu had applied for her passport in October 2022 but faced a delay of several months, prompting her to approach the court.

Justice Nwite granted all eight reliefs sought by the applicant and declared that the NIS’s failure to issue Ezumezu's passport violated her rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement as guaranteed by both local and international laws.

The court emphasized the importance of passports as official identity documents confirming Nigerian citizenship and enabling citizens to exercise their rights to travel freely. Justice Nwite ruled that Ezumezu had met all requirements for the issuance of her passport, including application submission, payment of approved fees, and biometric enrollment. The court found that the NIS's delay, which extended to 14 weeks, contravened Section 9(4) of the Immigration Act 2015.

Additionally, the court recognized that the delay had caused Ezumezu both monetary and professional losses, which justified the N3 million compensation.

The judgment included several directives:

• The immediate issuance of Ezumezu’s passport by the NIS.
• Payment of N3 million as general damages for losses incurred due to the delay.
• Mandatory compliance by the NIS and the Minister of Interior to ensure passports are issued within six weeks to qualified applicants.

The ruling reinforces the accountability of government agencies in upholding citizens' rights and adhering to established legal timelines.