NIN/SIM: High court orders extension by 2 months
A Federal High Court judgment by Justice Maureen Onyetenu has ruled a court suit in favour of former vice president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Monday Ubani by ordering an immediate extension of the deadline to link National Identification Number (NIN) with SIM by two months.
Recall that, in December 2020, Ubani filed a suit against the Federal Government, Attorney-General of the Federation, Nigerian Communications Commission, and Minister of Communication and Digital Economy over the initial deadline of December 30 2020 set for the NIN-SIM registration.
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According to the nation, the lawyer explained in the suit that “That the two weeks (16th December to 30th December 2020) ultimatum given to telecommunications operators by the 1st, 3rd and 4th Respondents to block all Subscriber Identification Modules (SIM) cards that are not registered with National Identity Number (NIN), is grossly inadequate and will not only work severe hardship,”
“But will likely infringe on the fundamental rights of the Applicant (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 violate 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 the moveable property.”
Earlier, the Federal Government had extended the deadline to January 19, 2021, for subscribers with NIN to link it with their SIM, and February 9, 2021, for those without NIN, and now April 6.
