NIGERIA IMMIGRATION SERVICE DEBUNKS FALSE INSINUATIONS OVER PASSPORT PURPORTEDLY ISSUED TO MRS. REBECCA OMOKAMO GODWIN-ISAAC DURING TRIAL

NIGERIA IMMIGRATION SERVICE DEBUNKS FALSE INSINUATIONS OVER PASSPORT PURPORTEDLY ISSUED TO MRS. REBECCA OMOKAMO GODWIN-ISAAC DURING TRIAL

The attention of Nigeria Immigration Service has been drawn to allegations in some sections of the media that it unlawfully issued a second passport to one Mrs. Rebecca Omokamo Godwin-Isaac, in defiance to a court order stopping renewal of passport of the subject.

Concerned about these false allegations, the Service has considered it exigent to educate the public and set the records straight on the matter. The facts, which directly contradict the allegations are as follows:

1. The record at the Service’s disposal shows that the passport in question was issued on 15 February 2025, four months before her arraignment before the Federal High Court, Abuja, on the 18th of June, 2025. Earlier, the Service issued Nigerian Passport No. B00485650 to Mrs. Rebecca Omokamo Godwin-Isaac on August 13, 2021, which was to expire on August 12, 2026. In line with extant laws and regulations which empower the Service to issue a person with another passport before the expiration of a valid passport on account of loss, damage, destruction and exhaustion of passport pages among other reasons, and sequel to her application for renewal, the Service issued passport number B51450551 to Mrs. Rebecca Omokamo Godwin-Isaac on February 15, 2025.

2. It is important for the public to know, that the issuance of Passport No. B51450551 to Mrs. Rebecca Omokamo Godwin-Isaac on February 15, 2025, automatically voided and invalidated Passport No. B00485650, earlier issued to Mrs. Rebecca Omokamo Godwin-Isaac on August 13, 2021. It is also important for the public to know, that at the time of the issuance of Passport No. B51450551 to Mrs. Rebecca Omokamo Godwin-Isaac on February 15, 2025, there was no order of court served on the Service, either not to issue a Passport to her, or to prevent her from travelling out of Nigeria.

3. In the absence of a court order blacklisting an applicant or restricting travel, the Service is legally bound to issue a passport, once the applicant satisfies the prescribed application, biometric, identity-verification, and document-security requirements. Mrs. Rebecca Omokamo Godwin-Isaac was subsequently arraigned before the Federal High Court, Abuja, in Charge Nos. FHC/ABJ/CR/76/2025 and FHC/ABJ/CR/77/2025 on the 18th of June 2025, before Hon. Justice Joyce Obehi Abdulmalik.

4. The arraignment and consequential order for Mrs. Rebecca Omokamo Godwin-Isaac to deposit her passport with the Court took place approximately four months after the Service had issued a new Passport to her, and she had a duty, in compliance with the Court order, to deposit with the Court, Passport No. B51450551, which was issued to her on February 15, 2025. Consequently, it was her responsibility to disclose and surrender the new passport to the court, where required by the terms of the bail order or any subsequent order, which likewise rests with her as the defendant.

5. Therefore, the allegation that Service issued a new Passport to Mrs. Rebecca Omokamo Godwin-Isaac “during trial” is completely unfounded. The Service is deeply concerned because the false narrative creates the misleading impression that the Service knowingly issued a passport to a person ordered to deposit her International Passport with the court – as part of conditions for bail – to undermine the lawful orders of the trial court.

6. The Service also wish to disclose that the trips by Mrs. Rebecca Omokamo Godwin-Isaac to Rwanda, Dubai and London occurred after the issuance of the extant passport and after her arraignment in Court. Because there was no communication received by the Service from the Federal High Court, the prosecuting agency, or any other competent authority to blacklist, watchlist, or otherwise restrict Mrs. Godwin-Isaac from obtaining a Nigerian passport at the time the passport was processed and issued in February 2025. Where a court or competent authority intends to restrict the international movement of an individual, the relevant order, directive or request must be formally communicated to the agency responsible for implementing the restriction.

7. The Nigeria Immigration Service remains committed to institutional accountability, the rule of law and the integrity of Nigeria’s passport and border-management systems. Timely notification enables Service to enforce such orders effectively and to prevent any conflict with judicial directives. The Service is also committed to supporting the administration of justice, respecting the authority of the courts and maintaining Nigeria’s travel-document system in accordance with Nigerian law and applicable international standards. We will therefore cooperate fully with any lawful investigation and will make relevant records available to competent authorities, where required.

e-Signed
DCI Akinsola Akinlabi
Service Public Relations Officer
Nigeria Immigration Service
Headquarters, Abuja.

24th September, 2026