Federal High Court e-Affidavit Portal Allows Nigerians Remote Access

The Federal High Court has introduced its Electronic Court Management System (ECMS) e-Affidavit Portal, providing Nigerians with the ability to obtain affidavits without having to visit any court premises. This fully digital platform streamlines the process, allowing applicants to register, fill out forms, upload necessary documents, make payments, and download a verified affidavit from any location with an internet connection.

The portal was developed to offer a secure and efficient method for affidavit applications and related court services, operating under the guidelines of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023. Details from the Federal High Court’s e-Affidavit Portal, accessed on Sunday, indicate that a wide range of affidavits are available, including those for name changes, corrections of birth dates, reporting lost documents, signature alterations, next of kin declarations, marriage declarations, banking purposes, and various other needs. Additionally, the platform enables applicants to track their application status and download completed affidavits once payment and approval are finalized.

Here’s a guide on how to apply:

**1. Account Creation:**

Applicants are required to register on the Federal High Court’s Electronic Court Management System portal at https://portal.fhc.gov.ng/. During registration, users must provide their full name (as it should appear on the affidavit), phone number, date of birth, email address, and a password. After successful registration, the applicant should log in and select the affidavit module.

**2. Profile Completion:**

Before commencing a new affidavit application, applicants must complete their affidavit profile. The portal requests information such as the applicant’s native town, residential address, occupation, National Identification Number (NIN), country of origin, state of origin, gender, religion, and date of birth. Applicants are also mandated to upload a passport photograph and a valid identity card. The Federal High Court advises applicants to ensure all provided information is accurate before saving their profile.

**3. Affidavit Type Selection:**

Upon completing their profile, applicants can access a list of available affidavit services. The portal categorizes these services into several groups:

* **Name Change:** Includes affidavits for Change of Name, Correction of Name, and Harmonisation of Name(s).

* **Date of Birth:** Covers Statutory Declaration of Age, Declaration of Age for a Minor, and Correction of Date of Birth.

* **Loss and Incidents:** For reporting Loss of Items, Burglary, Theft, Robbery, Damage, Missing Person, and other related incidents.

* **Identity and Personal Matters:** Encompasses Good Conduct, Next of Kin, Guardianship, Verification of Address, and State of Origin.

* **Marriage:** Includes Bachelorhood, Marriage Declaration, Spinsterhood, and Non-impediment.

* **Banking:** For Change of Bank Phone Number, Non-Indebtedness, and Single Account Ownership.

* **General Purpose:** Such as Authorisation, Transfer of Ownership, Claim of Ownership, Sponsorship, Affidavit of Means, and others.

* **Institutional Affidavits:** For Good Conduct and Non-Membership of Secret Cult/Terr*rist/Militant Group, Hostel Accommodation, and other institutional applications.

There are also options for affidavits related to academic documents, political office candidacy, and other specific institutional requirements.

**4. Application Form Filling:**

After selecting the desired affidavit, the applicant is directed to the corresponding application form. The information required varies depending on the chosen affidavit but generally includes personal details, the purpose of the affidavit, and specific information relevant to the application. For instance, an application for correction of date of birth requires the applicant to state the reason for the correction, the incorrect date of birth, and the correct date of birth. Applicants must also provide their email address and phone number, and choose a preferred Federal High Court division from the available options across different states and Abuja.

**5. Document Upload:**

The portal requires applicants to upload a recent passport photograph, a valid means of identification, and a signature, which can either be uploaded as a file or drawn directly. Accepted identification documents include a National Identification Number, international passport, driver’s licence, or voter’s card. The portal specifies that uploaded passport photographs, identification cards, and signatures must meet its technical specifications, with each file limited to 300KB, as observed in the reviewed application form.

**6. Application Preview:**

Once all necessary information has been entered, applicants should click the preview option to review their application thoroughly. The preview displays all supplied information, including the applicant’s name, identification details, affidavit information, contact details, and the selected court. Applicants are strongly advised to meticulously check all information at this stage before submission, as the portal clearly states that all payments are final and non-refundable.