NIN-SIM: Buhari govt sued for blocking Nigerians

The federal government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari has been dragged to court for blocking Nigerians yet to link their National Identification Number (NIN) to their Subscriber Identity Module (SIM).

In suit number FHC/L/CS/711/2022 filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos, SERAP said the government order was inconsistent with the requirements of legality.

SERAP is seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining President Buhari and the Minister of Communication, Isa Pantami, from the continuous blockage of lines.

It demanded adequate infrastructure and logistics to allow Nigerians, including persons with disabilities, the elderly and persons living in remote areas, to capture their data and conclude registration to obtain NIN.

Joined in the suit as Respondents are Pantami and Abubakar Malami, Attorney General and Minister of Justice.

The suit was filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Opeyemi Owolabi.

“While Nigerian authorities have a responsibility to secure the rights to life and property, any such responsibility ought to be discharged in conformity with human rights standards.

“The blocking of people from making calls constitutes impermissible restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression, information, and association”, it reads.