How to Apply for Federal High Court Affidavit Without Visiting Court

Nigerians can now obtain affidavits from the Federal High Court without physically visiting court premises through the court’s Electronic Court Management System (ECMS) e-Affidavit Portal.

The digital platform allows applicants to register, complete application forms, upload required documents, make payments and download verified affidavits from anywhere with an internet connection.

The portal was introduced to provide a secure and efficient process for affidavit applications and other related court services. It operates in accordance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.

According to information obtained from the Federal High Court’s e-Affidavit Portal, applicants can apply for different types of affidavits, including change of name, correction of date of birth, loss of documents, change of signature, next of kin, marriage, banking and other purposes.

How to Apply

1. Create an account

Applicants must register on the Federal High Court’s Electronic Court Management System portal at the official portal. During registration, users are required to provide their full name, phone number, date of birth, email address and password.

The name entered should be the name the applicant wants to appear on the affidavit. After registration, the applicant can log in and select the affidavit module.

2. Complete your profile

Before starting an application, applicants must complete their affidavit profile by providing information such as their native town, residential address, occupation, NIN, country of origin, state of origin, gender, religion and date of birth.

Applicants must also upload a passport photograph and an identity card. The court advises users to ensure that all information provided is accurate before saving their profiles.

3. Select the type of affidavit

The portal provides several affidavit categories, including:

- Change of name: Change of Name, Correction of Name and Harmonisation of Names.

- Date of birth: Statutory Declaration of Age, Declaration of Age for a Minor and Correction of Date of Birth.

- Loss and incidents: Loss of Items, Burglary, Theft, Robbery, Damage and Missing Person affidavits.

- Identity and personal matters: Good Conduct, Next of Kin, Guardianship, Verification of Address and State of Origin.

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

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

- General purpose: Authorisation, Transfer of Ownership, Claim of Ownership, Sponsorship and Affidavit of Means.

- Institutional affidavits: Good Conduct, Non-Membership of Secret Cult/Terrorist/Militant Group and Hostel Accommodation.

- The portal also provides affidavits relating to academic documents, political office candidacy and other institutional purposes.

4. Complete the application

After selecting the required affidavit, applicants are taken to the relevant application form.

Depending on the type of affidavit, users may be required to provide personal details, the purpose of the affidavit and other specific information.

For example, an application for correction of date of birth requires the applicant to provide 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 select their preferred Federal High Court division.

5. Upload the required documents

Applicants are required to upload a recent passport photograph, a valid means of identification and a signature, which can either be uploaded or drawn on the portal.

Accepted identification documents include a National Identification Number, international passport, driver's licence or voter's card.

The portal states that passport photographs, identification documents and signatures must meet its specified requirements. In the application reviewed, each uploaded file was limited to 300KB.

6. Preview the application

After entering all required information, applicants should use the preview option to carefully review their applications.

The preview displays details such as the applicant's name, identification information, affidavit details, contact information and selected court.

Applicants are advised to check all information carefully before submitting because payments made through the portal are final, non-refundable and non-transferable.

7. Agree to the terms and submit

Applicants must agree to the portal's terms and conditions and consent to the processing of their personal data in accordance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act.

The application can then be submitted.

8. Pay the required fee

Applicants are directed to make payment electronically after submitting their applications.

Payment options include Paystack and Remita. The application reviewed by Punch displayed a fee of N1,797 for the selected affidavit.

However, applicants are advised to confirm the amount displayed for their specific application because fees may vary depending on the service and may change over time.

The portal states that payments are final, non-refundable and non-transferable.

9. Download the affidavit

After payment and processing, the completed affidavit can be downloaded through the portal. A copy is also sent to the applicant's email address.

The Federal High Court states that affidavits issued through the portal contain unique barcodes and reference numbers that can be used for verification.

Applicants are warned that falsifying, altering or misusing an affidavit is a criminal offence and may attract legal consequences.

Important Information for Applicants

Applicants whose applications are queried for additional information or documents are required to respond within 72 hours.

Failure to make the required payment or respond to a query within the stipulated period may lead to the automatic deletion of the application without a refund or further notice. The applicant would then have to start a new application and make another payment.

The portal also collects personal information, including NIN details, passport photographs, signatures and contact information, for affidavit applications, verification and other lawful purposes.

The Federal High Court's e-Affidavit Portal is accessible through its Electronic Court Management System, enabling Nigerians to apply for eligible affidavits without physically visiting a court.

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