By KENNEDY SHEYIN

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has clarified the circumstances surrounding the passport issued to Mrs Rebecca Goodwin-Isaac during pending criminal proceedings.

The NIS said that records available showed that the passport in question was issued on Feb. 15, 2025, approximately four months prior to her arraignment before the Federal High Court, Abuja, on June 18, 2025.

The clarification is contained in a statement by the Service Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptoller of Immigration (DCI) Akinsola Akinlabi, made available to newsmen on Friday in Abuja.

Akinlabi said that the attention of the NIS was drawn to the issue, including allegations of issuing a new passport during the pendency of criminal proceedings and in contravention of an order of the Federal High Court.

“For the avoidance of doubt, records available to the Service show that Passport No. B51450551, was issued to Godwin-Isaac approximately four months before her arraignment.

“The service’s records also shows that Godwin-Isaac had previously been issued Nigerian Passport No. B00485650 on Aug. 13, 2021, with an expiry date of Aug. 12 2026.

“On Feb. 5, 2025, she subsequently applied for the reissuance of the passport to extend its validity while submitting applicable requirements,” he said.

He further clarified that following the processing of that application and having satisfied the requirements including applicable identity-verification and biometric requirements, Passport No. B51450551 was issued to her on Feb. 15, 2025.

“Upon the issuance of Passport No. B51450551, Passport No. B00485650 was cancelled in the service’s records and ceased to be valid for international travel.

“Importantly, the records presently available to the service indicate that, as at Feb. 15, 2025, when Passport No. B51450551 was issued, the NIS had not been served with or otherwise 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 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 order requiring the deposit of her passport with the court was therefore made after Passport No. B51450551 had already been issued,” he further clarified.

Akinlabi also said that the suggestion that the NIS issued Passport No. B51450551 during her trial or in defiance of the subsequent order of the federal high court is inconsistent with the chronology reflected in the service’s records.

“Any question concerning compliance by Godwin-Isaac with the subsequent order of the federal high court requiring the deposit of her passport is distinct from the question of whether the service issued Passport No. B51450551 in contravention of that order.

“The service considers it appropriate that questions concerning compliance with the terms of any bail or other judicial order remain matters for determination by the court and other competent authorities.

“The service’s records further indicate that Godwin-Isaac subsequently travelled to Rwanda, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom after her arraignment.

“At the material times, the service had not received any court order, watchlist instruction or other lawful notification from the federal high court, the prosecuting agency or other competent authority directing the NIS to restrict her international travel,” he added.

The service PRO explained that where a court or competent authority imposes a restriction requiring implementation by the NIS, timely and formal communication enabled the service to give effect to such restriction through the appropriate border-management and travel-control systems.

He also said that the NIS 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.

He also assured that the service would cooperate fully with any lawful investigation into the circumstances surrounding the issuance of the passport and would make relevant records available to the appropriate authorities as required.

“This includes records relating to the application, processing and issuance of the passport, subject to applicable law,” he said.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the NIS to supporting the administration of justice, respecting the authority of the courts and administering Nigeria’s travel-document and border-management systems in accordance with Nigerian law. (NAN)