Nigerians seeking certain affidavits from the Federal High Court can now complete the process remotely through the court’s Electronic Court Management System e-Affidavit Portal.
The online service allows applicants to create an account, submit their details, upload identification documents, pay the applicable fee and receive an approved affidavit electronically without having to visit a court premises.
The system covers several common affidavit requests, including change or correction of names, correction of date of birth, loss of documents, change of signature, next of kin, marriage-related declarations and banking matters.
Applicants can also monitor the progress of their requests on the platform and download approved documents after processing.
How to apply
1. Register on the portal
Applicants should first create an account through the Federal High Court’s Electronic Court Management System at https://portal.fhc.gov.ng/.
Registration requires details such as the applicant’s full name, phone number, date of birth, email address and a password.
The name supplied during registration should correspond with the name the applicant wants reflected on the affidavit.
After creating the account, the applicant can log in and proceed to the affidavit section.
2. Set up your affidavit profile
Before submitting an application, users must complete their profile by providing information such as their residential address, occupation, native town, NIN, state and country of origin, gender, religion and date of birth.
A passport photograph and an identity document are also required.
Applicants should carefully review the information before saving the profile to avoid mistakes.
3. Select the affidavit you need
The portal provides different affidavit categories.
These include name-related applications, declarations and corrections of age or date of birth, affidavits concerning lost or stolen items, identity and personal matters, marriage, banking and general-purpose requests.
There are also options connected to academic documents, political office candidacy and certain institutional requirements.
4. Provide the requested information
Once an affidavit type has been selected, the applicant is taken to a form specific to that request.
The information required depends on the type of affidavit being sought.
For instance, someone applying to correct a date of birth may need to provide the incorrect date, the correct date and an explanation for the requested correction.
Applicants are also required to provide contact details and select their preferred Federal High Court division from the available options.
5. Upload identification documents
The application requires a recent passport photograph, a valid means of identification and the applicant’s signature.
Acceptable identification documents include a NIN, international passport, driver’s licence or voter’s card.
The documents uploaded must meet the portal’s specifications. The application reviewed for this report indicated a maximum file size of 300KB for the relevant uploads.
6. Check everything before submitting
Applicants are given an opportunity to preview their application before submission.
This stage allows users to confirm their personal information, identification details, affidavit request, contact information and selected court division.
It is important to correct errors at this point because the portal states that payments are final, non-refundable and non-transferable.
7. Submit and make payment
After reviewing the application, users must accept the terms and consent to the processing of their personal information before submitting.
Payment can then be made electronically through options including Paystack and Remita.
The application reviewed displayed a fee of N1,797 for the selected affidavit. However, applicants should check the amount shown for their particular application before paying, as charges may differ depending on the service.
8. Download the approved affidavit
Once the application has been processed and approved, the completed affidavit can be downloaded from the portal.
A copy is also sent to the applicant’s email address.
Documents issued through the platform contain unique barcodes and reference numbers that can be used to verify their authenticity.
What happens if your application is queried?
Applicants whose submissions require additional information or documents are expected to respond within 72 hours, according to the portal.
Failure to respond within the stipulated period or complete the required payment may lead to the application being automatically deleted without a refund.
In such a situation, the applicant may have to begin the process again and make a fresh payment.
The portal also collects personal information, including NIN details, photographs, signatures and contact information, for purposes connected with the affidavit application and verification.
Applicants are warned against altering, falsifying or misusing affidavits, as such actions may attract criminal liability.
The Federal High Court’s e-Affidavit service is available through its Electronic Court Management System, allowing eligible applicants to handle the process remotely rather than making a trip to court.
