Human rights lawyer, Monday Onyekachi Ubani, has written to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, demanding that the government respect the court judgment that extended the blocking of SIM without NIN for another two months.
In the letter, Ubani appealed to Malami to advise the minister of communications and digital economy to not only extend the deadline by the stipulated court period of two months, but at least one year for Nigerians to register for their NIN with ease.
Ubani letter reads:
“The court had on March 23, gave judgment in favour of Ubani compulsory use of National Idenity Number (NIN) which extended the deadline I write to inform you that on Tuesday March 23rd 2021, the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi Lagos as per Justice M.A. Onyetenu, with regards to the aforementioned law suit entered judgment in my favour. The judgement is to the effect that the ultimatum of 9th April 2021, given to telecommunication operators by the Federal Government to block all SIM Cards that are not yet registered with the National Identity Numbers (NIN) be halted as the timeline is grossly inadequate and will not only work severe hardship, but will likely infringe on my fundamental rights (and millions of other Nigerians) to freedom of expression as guaranteed by section 39(1)(2) of the 1999 Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as section 44(1) of the 1999 Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) which prohibits the compulsory acquisition of right or interest over movable property.
“The Court further declared that in view of the Covid-19 pandemic and the rising cases in Nigeria presently, the deadline given to myself and over 200 million Nigerians to register their sim cards with NIN, will lead to a rush, thereby resulting in clustering of I and other Nigerian citizens in a NIN registration centre, subjecting us to the possibility of easily contracting the deadly and dreaded Covid-19 Virus, and such 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 Honourable Court directed that the Federal Government of Nigeria, Nigerian Communications Commission and 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 23rd 2021.
I therefore urge you to use your good office to advice the Honourable Minister for Communications and Digital Economy, to respect our judiciary by complying with the above stated orders of court. I further appeal to you to advise the honourable minister to review his stand on the ultimatum for the registration of SIM Cards with NIN beyond the duration declared by the honourable court to at least a year, this is to give a soft landing to the greater majority of Nigerians who are yet to be captured by the National Identity Management Commission and ensure that a good number of Nigerians are accommodated within the timeline of one year.”
