The Federal High Court of Nigeria has introduced an Electronic Court Management System (ECMS) e-Affidavit Portal, allowing Nigerians to obtain affidavits online without visiting court premises. This digital platform enables applicants to register, complete application forms, upload required documents, make payments, and download verified affidavits from anywhere with an internet connection. The system operates under the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023, ensuring a secure and efficient process for affidavit applications and related court services.
The e-Affidavit Portal offers various types of affidavits, including those for change of name, correction of date of birth, loss of documents, change of signature, next of kin, marriage, and banking purposes. Applicants can track the status of their applications through the portal and download completed affidavits after payment and approval. This development is part of the Federal High Court's digitalization of court services aimed at making selected processes more accessible to the public.
To apply for an affidavit, applicants must first create an account on the Federal High Court's Electronic Court Management System portal at https://portal.fhc.gov.ng/. During registration, users provide their full name, phone number, date of birth, email address, and a password. The name entered should be the name that the applicant wants to appear on the affidavit. After registration, the applicant logs in to the portal and selects the affidavit module.
Before starting a new affidavit application, applicants must complete their affidavit profile, providing information including their native town, residential address, occupation, NIN, country of origin, state of origin, gender, religion, and date of birth. Applicants are also required to upload a passport photograph and an identity card. The Federal High Court advises applicants to ensure that all information supplied is accurate before saving the profile.
After completing the profile, applicants can access the list of available affidavit services, including name change, date of birth, loss and incidents, identity and personal matters, marriage, banking, and general purpose affidavits. The portal offers several categories, and applicants can choose the type of affidavit they need. The applicant is then taken to the relevant application form, which may require personal details, the purpose of the affidavit, and information specific to the application.
The portal requires applicants to upload required documents, including a recent passport photograph, a valid means of identification, and a signature. Accepted identification documents include a National Identification Number, international passport, driver's license, or voter's card. After entering the required information, applicants should preview their application, agree to the terms, and submit. The portal then directs applicants to make payment electronically through Paystack or Remita.
After payment and processing, the completed affidavit can be downloaded through the portal, while a copy is also sent to the applicant's email address. The Federal High Court says affidavits issued through the portal are protected with unique barcodes and reference numbers that can be used for verification. Applicants are warned that falsifying, altering, or misusing an affidavit constitutes a criminal offense and may attract legal consequences.
Key points
- The Federal High Court's e-Affidavit Portal allows Nigerians to obtain affidavits online without visiting court premises.
- The portal offers various types of affidavits, including those for change of name, correction of date of birth, and marriage purposes.
- Applicants can track the status of their applications and download completed affidavits after payment and approval.
