By OLAWALE AKINREMI

A Federal High Court in Ibadan has adjourned until Feb. 24, hearing on the application challenging the Nigeria Immigration Service’s policy mandating wives to first get the consent of their husbands before renewal of their passport.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the application is also challenging NIS’s policy mandating children below age 18 or minors to get the consent of their fathers before the renewal of their passport.

Justice Nkeonye Maha adjourned the suit after Mr Justice Oguaba, counsel to the applicant had told the court that hearing notices have been served on the respondents twice in May and October 2025.

Citing some sections of the law to support his argument, Oguaba stated that proceedings could go ahead on the matter without NIS being present since they have been served on two separate occasions, but chose to decline appearance.

However, Maha insisted that a fresh hearing notice should be served on the respondents, hence, the adjournment.

Also standing as respondent in the matter alongside NIS in the matter is the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

According to Oguaba, husband and counsel to the applicant Mrs Chibuzo Oguaba, the NIS policy was a contravention of section 42 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 amended, which forbids discrimination on grounds of sex, circumstances of birth and so on.

“The applicant wanted to renew her passport as well as those of the children.

“Approaching the immigration office in Ibadan, the passport controller insisted that she must first get the consent of her husband after presenting all the other necessary documents.

“The children were also told to get their father’s consent before their passport could be renewed and we consider this as a discrimination against us,” Oguaba said. (NAN)

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