The Nigerian passport is not the only national document subject to legal penalties if damaged or destroyed.
In addition to the passport, which is issued by the Federal Government through the National Immigration Service (NIS) and serves as identification for international travel, the destruction of court documents is also considered a legal offense.
Recently, a Nigerian woman named Favour Igiebor was seen in a viral video tearing her husband’s passport at Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos.
This incident occurred after she returned from Europe with her husband and children, and was witnessed by other travelers. Despite the incident, airport officials did not intervene.
Read Also: What Immigration Act Of 2015 Says Concerning Woman Who Destroyed Husband’s Passport At Lagos Airport
Kenneth Udo, spokesperson for NIS, confirmed the event and stated that the Comptroller General of Immigration, K.N. Nandap, has summoned Igiebor for further investigation.
If found guilty, Igiebor could face charges under Section 10(b) of the Immigration Act 2015 (as amended). Section 10(h) of the same Act specifies penalties for anyone who “unlawfully alters, tampers with, or mutilates any passport or its pages,” or who “attempts, aids and abets, counsels, procures, connives, or conspires with another person to commit any of these acts.” The penalties include a prison term of up to ten years, a fine of two million naira, or both.
Court documents/evidence
In addition to passports, the destruction of court documents, such as subpoenas or summons, can also result in legal repercussions.
Under Section 123 of the Criminal Code Act in Nigeria, individuals found guilty of such offenses may face imprisonment.
“Any person who, knowing that any book, document, or other things of any kind, is or may be required in evidence in a judicial proceeding, wilfully removes, conceals or destroys it or renders it illegible or undecipherable or incapable of identification, with intent thereby to prevent it from being used in evidence, is guilty of a felony, and is liable to imprisonment for three years”
Naira
The Nigerian currency, commonly known as the Naira, is a national symbol regulated primarily by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act of 2007.
The CBN is responsible for the issuance, distribution, and management of the Naira within the country.
According to Section 21 of the CBN Act, any abuse of the Naira is subject to legal penalties. Such abuse includes actions like spraying, dancing on, or defacing the currency. Offenders may face fines and imprisonment for these violations.
Section 21 (1) – (3) of the CBN Act reads
“21 (1) A person who tampers with a coin or note issued by the Bank is guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for a term not less than six months or to a fine not less than N50,000 or to both such fine and imprisonment.
(2) A coin or note shall be deemed to have been tampered with if the coin or note has been impaired, diminished or lightened otherwise than by fair wear and tear or has been defaced by stamping, engraving, mutilating, piercing, stapling, writing, tearing, soiling, squeezing or any other form of deliberate and willful abuse whether the coin or note has or has not been thereby diminished or lightened.
(3) For the avoidance of doubt, spraying of, dancing or matching on the Naira or any note issued by the Bank during social occasions or otherwise howsoever shall constitute abuse and defacing of the Naira or such note and shall be punishable under Sub-section (1) of this section.”
Marriage certificate
Destroying or altering a marriage certificate can lead to both legal and personal complications. A marriage certificate is a legal document that confirms the union of two individuals as recognized by law and is considered valuable property.
In Nigeria, laws designed to protect individuals from Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) include the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act.
This legislation makes it a crime to destroy or damage another person’s property with the intent to cause harm or distress. Violations are punishable by up to two years in prison or a fine of up to ₦300,000, or both.
Furthermore, attempting to commit this offense or aiding others in doing so is also punishable by law. Such offenses can result in up to one year in prison or a fine of ₦200,000, or both.
Additionally, damaging or destroying other national documents, such as driver’s licenses, identification cards, and government-issued documents, is also subject to legal penalties.
Credit: Business Day
