Nigerians seeking affidavits from the Federal High Court can now complete the application process online without visiting court premises, following the introduction of the court’s Electronic Court Management System e-Affidavit Portal.
The digital platform allows applicants to register, provide their personal details, select the type of affidavit required, upload supporting documents, make payments and obtain their completed affidavit electronically after processing. The Federal High Court says the system was designed to simplify affidavit deposition and improve access to court services.
The initiative is part of the judiciary’s broader digital transformation efforts and is intended to reduce the need for applicants to travel to court solely to obtain routine affidavits. The court’s official information states that the system supports online applications, payment, application tracking and electronic issuance of completed affidavits.
How to apply
1. Create an account
Applicants are required to register on the Federal High Court’s Electronic Court Management System portal. During registration, users provide their full name, telephone number, date of birth, email address and password.
The name supplied during registration is important because it is the name intended to appear on the affidavit.
After creating an account, the applicant can log in and select the affidavit module.
2. Complete the affidavit profile
Before beginning an application, users must complete their profile with relevant personal information. This includes details such as residential address, occupation, National Identification Number, state and country of origin, gender, religion and date of birth.
Applicants are also required to upload a passport photograph and an acceptable means of identification. The court advises users to carefully check the information provided before submitting their profiles.
3. Select the type of affidavit
The portal provides different affidavit categories for applicants with varying needs.
These include affidavits relating to change or correction of names, statutory declaration of age, correction of date of birth, loss of documents or other items, burglary, theft, robbery, missing persons, good conduct, next of kin, guardianship, verification of address and state of origin.
Applicants can also select their preferred Federal High Court division from the options available on the platform.
4. Provide the required information and submit
After selecting the appropriate affidavit, applicants are expected to provide the information required for that particular document. The application should be reviewed carefully before submission to avoid errors that could affect the final document.
The Federal High Court’s official explanation says applicants can complete affidavit details electronically and proceed with payment through approved online channels.
5. Make payment
Applicants are required to pay the applicable fees through the portal’s payment system. The payment stage forms part of the electronic application process, after which the application can proceed to verification and processing.
6. Wait for approval and download
Once the application has been reviewed and approved, the completed affidavit can be downloaded electronically. PUNCH reports that a copy is also sent to the applicant’s email address.
The Federal High Court says electronically issued affidavits carry digital verification features, including QR codes or other identifiers, allowing their authenticity to be checked.
The court has also warned applicants against falsifying, altering or misusing affidavits, noting that such conduct can attract legal consequences.
The introduction of the e-Affidavit Portal is expected to make the process more convenient for Nigerians who previously had to travel to a court location for routine affidavit services. It also provides applicants with a way to monitor their applications and access completed documents electronically.
However, applicants should ensure that they use the official Federal High Court portal and provide accurate information throughout the process. The court’s official website identifies the e-Affidavit Client Portal as a platform for remote affidavit submission, application tracking, online payment and access to certified electronic copies.
The development represents another step in the digitisation of judicial services in Nigeria, potentially reducing physical queues and unnecessary travel while giving members of the public easier access to routine court-related services.
