Marriage, citizenship database: Court orders AGF, ministry to halt moves to terminate contract

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi and the Ministry of Interior from taking any action to terminate the marriages, citizenship and expatriate data management contract with a company. Justice Emeka Nwite on Monday also directed the parties to avoid all actions […]

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi and the Ministry of Interior from taking any action to terminate the marriages, citizenship and expatriate data management contract with a company.

Justice Emeka Nwite on Monday also directed the parties to avoid all actions that would undermine the matter before the court.

The judge said as ministers in the temple of justice, lawyers in the matter ought to advise their clients not to take any action until the hearing and determination of the matter before it.

“I am sounding it loud, don’t do anything before the determination of the court,” he said.

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The suit was brought by Anchor Dataware Solutions Ltd, challenging a letter from the Ministry of Interior terminating its contract for the arrangement and management of the data of foreigners in the country.

Earlier, defence counsel, Abiola Olawale, requested an adjournment to enable them to respond to all the issues, adding that they have filed their preliminary objection before the court.

On his part, counsel to Anchor Dataware, Obinna Amagwula Esq., said they are not opposed to an adjournment but would want the court to order a status quo in the matter.

Anchor Dataware had filed the action challenging the letter dated April 15, 2025, from the Ministry of Interior terminating the April 12, 2012 agreement it signed under public, private, partnership (PPP) and the build, operate and transfer (BOT) arrangement for the arrangement and maintenance of expatriate quota, business permit, citizenship (naturalisation/registration) administration, marriage registration application, processing and notices, which was renewed on January 19, 2017.

The company further contends that the contract, which had an acceptance letter dated May 30, 2023, is “still valid, subsisting and binding on the partes”, adding that no party can unilaterally terminate the contract except there is a breach in the performance, which it had complied with by making remittances between 2012 and 2025.

The case has been adjourned to June 3 for further hearing.