The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has clarified the circumstances surrounding the issuance of a Nigerian passport to Mrs Rebecca Omokamo Godwin-Isaac, stating that the document was issued four months before her arraignment before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The Service Public Relations Officer, DCI Akinsola Akinlabi, made the clarification in a statement on Friday, saying Passport No. B51450551 was issued to Godwin-Isaac on February 15, 2025, while she was arraigned before the Federal High Court on June 18, 2025.
The clarification followed reports alleging that the NIS issued a new passport to Godwin-Isaac while criminal proceedings were pending against her and in defiance of an order of the Federal High Court.
According to the NIS, its records show that Godwin-Isaac had earlier been issued Passport No. B00485650 on August 13, 2021, with an expiry date of August 12, 2026.
The Service said she applied for the reissuance of the passport on February 5, 2025, seeking to extend its validity and submitted the applicable requirements.
It explained that following the processing of the application and the completion of applicable identity-verification and biometric requirements, Passport No. B51450551 was issued on February 15, 2025.
The previous passport, the Service added, was cancelled in its records upon issuance of the new document and ceased to be valid for international travel.
The NIS further stated that, as of February 15, 2025, it had not been served with or formally notified of any court order, watchlist instruction or other lawful restriction prohibiting the issuance of a passport to Godwin-Isaac or restricting her international travel.
Godwin-Isaac was subsequently arraigned before the Federal High Court, Abuja, in Charge Nos. FHC/ABJ/CR/76/2025 and FHC/ABJ/CR/77/2025 on June 18, 2025.
The Service said the order requiring her to deposit her passport with the Court was therefore made after Passport No. B51450551 had already been issued.
It consequently maintained that the suggestion that the passport was issued during her trial or in defiance of a subsequent court order was inconsistent with the chronology contained in its records.
The NIS, however, distinguished between the issuance of the passport and compliance with the subsequent court order requiring its deposit.
It said any question concerning Godwin-Isaac’s compliance with the order remains a matter for determination by the Court and other competent authorities.
The Service also disclosed that its records indicated that Godwin-Isaac subsequently travelled to Rwanda, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom after her arraignment.
According to the NIS, it had not received any court order, watchlist instruction or other lawful notification from the Federal High Court, the prosecuting agency or another competent authority directing it to restrict her international travel at the material times.
The Service explained that where a court or competent authority imposes a restriction requiring implementation by the NIS, timely and formal communication of the relevant order or directive enables it to activate the appropriate border-management and travel-control measures.
The NIS said it recognised the seriousness of the issues raised and remained committed to institutional accountability, the rule of law and the integrity of Nigeria’s passport and border-management systems.
It also pledged to cooperate fully with any lawful investigation into the circumstances surrounding the issuance of the passport and make relevant records available to the appropriate authorities as required.
