Justice Maureen Onyetenu ordered the extension while delivering a ruling in a swimsuit filed by Monday Ubani, former vice-president of the Nigerian Bar Affiliation (NBA).
In December 2020, Ubani filed a swimsuit towards the Federal Authorities, Legal professional-Basic of the Federation, Nigerian Communications Fee, and Minister of Communication and Digital Economic system over the preliminary deadline of December 30 2020 set for the NIN-SIM registration.
The human rights lawyer had argued the preliminary two-week — December 16 to December 30, 2020 — deadline issued by the federal authorities to telecommunication operators for NIN registration will infringe on the basic human rights of Nigerians and expose them to COVID-19.
“That the 2 weeks (sixteenth December to thirtieth December 2020) ultimatum given to telecommunications operators by the first, third and 4th Respondents to dam all Subscriber Identification Modules (SIM) playing cards that aren’t registered with Nationwide Identification Quantity (NIN), is grossly insufficient and won’t solely work extreme hardship,” the swimsuit stated.
“However will possible infringe on the basic rights of the Applicant (and thousands and thousands of different Nigerians) to freedom of expression as assured by part 39(1)(2) of the 1999 structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in addition to violate part 44(1) of the 1999 structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) which prohibits the obligatory acquisition of proper or curiosity over moveable property.”
Nevertheless, the Federal Authorities had prolonged the deadline to January 19, 2021 for subscribers with NIN to hyperlink it with their SIM, and February 9, 2021, for these with out NIN, and now April 6.
The ruling on Tuesday granted all of the prayers of Ubani and ordered a two-month extension efficient from March 23.