The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has addressed the controversy surrounding the issuance of a passport to Mrs. Rebecca Goodwin-Isaac during ongoing criminal proceedings. According to the NIS, the passport in question was issued on February 15, 2025, about four months before her arraignment at the Federal High Court in Abuja on June 18, 2025. This clarification was made by the Service's Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller of Immigration (DCI) Akinsola Akinlabi.
Akinlabi stated that the NIS had received attention on the matter, including allegations that a new passport was issued during the pendency of criminal proceedings, contravening a Federal High Court order. He explained that records available to the Service showed that Goodwin-Isaac had previously been issued a Nigerian Passport on August 13, 2021, with an expiry date of August 12, 2026. On February 5, 2025, she applied for a reissuance of the passport to extend its validity, submitting the applicable requirements.
Following the processing of her application and satisfaction of the requirements, including identity verification and biometric requirements, Passport No. B51450551 was issued to Goodwin-Isaac on February 15, 2025. Upon issuance, her previous passport, No. B00485650, was cancelled in the Service's records and ceased to be valid for international travel. At the time of issuance, the NIS had not received any court order, watchlist instruction, or lawful restriction prohibiting the issuance of a passport to Goodwin-Isaac or restricting her international travel.
The NIS also clarified that the suggestion that the Service issued Passport No. B51450551 during her trial or in defiance of the subsequent order of the Federal High Court is inconsistent with the chronology reflected in the Service's records. Akinlabi emphasized that any question concerning compliance by Goodwin-Isaac with the subsequent order of the Federal High Court requiring the deposit of her passport is distinct from the question of whether the Service issued Passport No. B51450551 in contravention of that order.
According to Akinlabi, the Service's records indicate that Goodwin-Isaac subsequently travelled to Rwanda, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom after her arraignment. At the material times, the Service had not received any court order, watchlist instruction, or lawful notification from the Federal High Court, the prosecuting agency, or other competent authority directing the NIS to restrict her international travel. The Service's records show that timely and formal communication from a court or competent authority enables the Service to give effect to such restriction through the appropriate border-management and travel-control systems.
The NIS recognized the seriousness of the issues raised and remained committed to institutional accountability, the rule of law, and the integrity of Nigeria's passport and border-management systems. Akinlabi assured that the Service would cooperate fully with any lawful investigation into the circumstances surrounding the issuance of the passport and would make relevant records available to the appropriate authorities as required. This includes records relating to the application, processing, and issuance of the passport, subject to applicable law.
The NIS reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the administration of justice, respecting the authority of the courts, and administering Nigeria's travel-document and border-management systems in accordance with Nigerian law. The Service's clarification aims to provide transparency and clarity on the matter, emphasizing its dedication to upholding the law and ensuring the integrity of its processes.
Key points
- The Nigeria Immigration Service issued a passport to Rebecca Goodwin-Isaac on February 15, 2025, before her arraignment on June 18, 2025.
- The Service had not received any court order restricting Goodwin-Isaac's international travel at the time of passport issuance.
- The NIS remains committed to institutional accountability and the rule of law in the passport issuance process.
