The human rights lawyer, Monday Ubani, requested this Tuesday the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to immediately comply with a sentence of the Federal High Court that extends the term for the National Identification Number, NIN, in two months.
In passing judgment in a lawsuit filed by Ubani, Judge MA Onyetenu held last week that the initial two-week ultimatum (now extended until April 6) given to telecom operators to block the SIM cards of Nigerians who do not have registered your SIM card with NIN, if allowed. , constitutes a violation of their constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of expression, the right to personal property and the right to life.
Subsequently, the judge extended the new deadline for another two months from March 23.
In a letter dated March 30, 2021, Ubani asked the AGF to adequately advise the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy to respect the court ruling and announce the extension of the new term ordered by the court.
The letter reads: “I am writing to inform you that on Tuesday, March 23, 2021, the Federal High Court in Ikoyi Lagos according to Judge MA Onyetenu, regarding the aforementioned lawsuit, handed down a judgment in my favor.
“The sentence is in the sense that the ultimatum of April 6, 2021 given to telecommunications operators by the Federal Government to block all SIM Cards that are not yet registered with the National Identity Numbers (NIN) is stopped. .
“The timeline is grossly inadequate and will not only cause serious difficulties, but will likely infringe my fundamental rights (and millions of other Nigerians) to freedom of expression guaranteed by section 39 (1) (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as well as Article 44 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) that prohibits the compulsory acquisition of rights or interests in movable property.
“The Court further stated that in view of the Covid-19 pandemic and increasing cases in Nigeria, the deadline given to me and more than 200 million Nigerians to register their SIM cards with NINs will cause a rush. .
“Therefore, it will result in the grouping of other Nigerian citizens and myself in a NIN registration center, subjecting us to the possibility of easily contracting the deadly and dreaded Covid-19 Virus, and that will amount to a violation of our fundamental right to life as protected by section 33 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“The Honorable Court ordered the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy to extend the deadline for the registration of SIM Cards with NIN for at least another 2 months from Tuesday, March 23 of 2021.
“Therefore, I urge you to use your good office to advise the Honorable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, to respect our judiciary by complying with the aforementioned court orders.
“I also ask you to advise the honorable minister to review his position on the ultimatum for the registration of SIM cards with NINs beyond the duration declared by the honorable court of at least one year.
“This is to give a soft landing to the vast majority of Nigerians who have not yet been captured by the National Identity Management Commission and to ensure that a good number of Nigerians are accommodated within a year.”
