Two rules on the Federal High Court's e-affidavit portal catch people out after they think the hard part is over: a short query deadline, and a strict no-refund policy.
What a query actually is
If something about your application needs fixing, the portal raises a query rather than rejecting the application outright. This might relate to a document, a detail you entered, or a mismatch the reviewer spots.
The clock starts once a query is raised
You have 72 hours to respond once a query is raised. That is a short window, so check your email and the portal itself regularly if you know a decision is pending.
Missing the deadline is reported to lead to automatic deletion of the application, with no refund of what you already paid.
Why the portal treats payment as final
Every payment on portal.fhc.gov.ng is final, non-refundable and non-transferable. That applies whether you change your mind, made an error, or simply missed the query deadline above.
This is stricter than many everyday online payments, where a mistaken order can often be cancelled. Treat an e-affidavit payment as a one-way step, not a reversible one.
It helps to think of the fee as tied to the attempt, not to a certain outcome. A careful, complete application on your first try is the only real protection against losing it.
This is one more reason to treat the portal's own instructions as the final word. A detail you assume rather than check is exactly the kind of thing a query tends to catch.
Unpaid applications are not safe either
An application you start but never pay for can also be deleted. If a query is left unanswered, the same applies. Either way, the fix is the same: a new application and a new payment, not a resumed old one.
How to avoid losing money on a first attempt
Fill in your details carefully the first time, using the correct IDs and a clear signature. Our requirements guide covers exactly what the portal asks for, so you can prepare everything before you start the clock on your own application.
Check your email and the portal itself often once you have applied, so a query does not sit unanswered by accident.
Common mistakes
- Not checking email after applying. A missed notification can cost you the whole fee if a query goes unanswered.
- Assuming a mistake can be corrected after payment. Payments are final; a wrong entry usually means starting again.
- Leaving an application unpaid and forgotten. Pay promptly, or expect it to be removed.
Our courts and affidavits hub links the rest of this series, and affidavit of loss cost in Nigeria covers cost and payment more broadly. A vetted partner firm can prepare and file an affidavit of loss with your details checked before anything is submitted.