Court & legal
Affidavit of loss in Nigeria.
Affidavit of loss in Nigeria: what it is, where to swear it, what it costs, the court e-affidavit portals and how to start one online from your phone.
An affidavit of loss is the most common piece of court paperwork in Nigerian everyday life. Banks ask for one before reissuing an ATM card. Telcos ask for one before replacing a SIM. Schools ask for one for a lost certificate. Embassies ask for one before reissuing a lost passport. The affidavit itself is short — half a page of sworn statement — but where you swear it, who stamps it, and how much it costs is where people get stuck.
What it actually is
A sworn affidavit of loss is a written statement, signed before a Commissioner for Oaths at a Nigerian high court, in which you declare that a specific document or item has been lost. The Commissioner stamps it and the court seals it, and institutions use it as evidence to issue a replacement.
It is not a police report. A police report says the police know about the loss. An affidavit says you have sworn under oath that the loss happened. Most institutions ask for the affidavit; some ask for both.
Where to swear it
Under the Oaths Act, a commissioner for oaths, a notary public, or a judge of the Federal High Court or a higher court can take an affidavit. Most people use a court’s commissioner for oaths, and many courts now run e-affidavit portals. In practice:
- Lagos State High Court — general affidavits, such as loss of a SIM or a change of name, are obtained only through the LagosCoMiS online platform (lagoscomis.lagosjudiciary.gov.ng).
- FCT High Court — commissioners for oaths sit at Apo, Maitama, Wuse and the other locations listed on fcthighcourt.gov.ng/commissioners-for-oath, and the court runs an online affidavit system at varms.fcthighcourt.gov.ng.
- Federal High Court — its e-affidavit portal (portal.fhc.gov.ng) handles affidavits not linked to a court case, such as loss of items, age declaration and change of name. You register, choose an affidavit, upload your documents and pay online, by Paystack or Remita. Payments are final, non-refundable and non-transferable.
- State e-affidavit portals — some state judiciaries run their own, such as Abia (affidavit.abiahighcourt.org) and Enugu (affidavit.judiciary.en.gov.ng).
- Magistrate Courts — accept affidavits but with narrower acceptance from federal agencies.
- Customary Courts — limited to specific subject matter; not a default.
What about a notary public?
Notaries public can administer oaths but their affidavits are typically used for international matters. Domestic Nigerian institutions usually prefer a high court Commissioner for Oaths stamp. You can check that a notary is genuine on the public register at notary.gov.ng.
How much it costs in 2026
The court fee and stamp duty for a single affidavit are small, and each court sets its own amount. The bigger cost of going to court yourself is the day you spend at the registry, not the fee. On Docufy you pay one all-in price, VAT included, shown before you pay. It covers the court fee, drafting the affidavit and a vetted partner firm handling the filing.
For a fuller breakdown, see what an affidavit of loss costs.
What to bring
For most affidavits of loss:
- A description of what was lost — what it was, when you last had it, where it went missing.
- Your full name as it appears on government ID.
- A government-issued ID (driver's licence, NIN slip, international passport).
- Two passport photographs (some courts ask for these; carry them).
- Money for the stamp duty, if you pay at a registry.
- Online, the Federal High Court portal asks for your NIN, a recent passport photograph, a valid ID and your signature.
How long it takes
In person at a busy registry, expect to lose a half-day. On Docufy, the page for this filing shows the target time in business days before you start, and you follow each step on your phone until the sworn affidavit is in your vault as a PDF with a verify link. The court registry sets the final pace.
Will the bank / telco / embassy accept it?
Domestic banks, telcos, schools and government offices usually accept a stamped affidavit from a Nigerian high court. If you are unsure, ask the institution what it needs before you start.
International institutions (foreign embassies, foreign banks) sometimes want the document authenticated first. Nigeria is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so it does not issue apostilles: Nigerian documents for use abroad are authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (foreignaffairs.gov.ng/services/document-authentication), and the receiving country may add its own step. Ask the institution before assuming a single affidavit is enough.
For change-of-name affidavits and other court documents, see our affidavit guides.
Questions
Frequently asked.
How much is an affidavit of loss in Lagos in 2026?
In Lagos, general affidavits are now obtained only through the LagosCoMiS online platform, which does not publish a fee schedule, so check the amount it shows before you pay. Watch for facilitators who add their own markup. On Docufy you see the government fee, our service fee and VAT on our fee before you pay.
Can I use an affidavit of loss for a lost SIM card?
Yes. Nigerian telcos usually accept a stamped affidavit of loss for a SIM replacement. Take it with your old SIM number and ID to the telco store.
Do I need a police report as well?
Usually not for banks and telcos. Some losses need one: on Docufy the form asks for a police report when the lost item is an international passport, and recommends one for a NIN slip, BVN slip or cheque. Higher-value losses and some insurance claims may also require both.
Can someone else swear the affidavit on my behalf?
Usually not. The deponent — the person making the sworn statement — is normally the person who lost the item, because the statement is made under oath in the first person.
What if I find the item after I swore the affidavit?
Nothing. The affidavit recorded the truth at the time it was sworn. Some institutions will ask you to update them; you do not need a fresh affidavit.
Sources
- e-AFFIDAVIT — Enugu State Judiciary
- Commissioners for Oath — FCT High Court
- VARMS — Virtual Affidavit Registration Management System (FCT High Court)
- CoMiS Plus — Lagos State Judiciary
- Electronic Notary Register
- ECMS | Electronic Court Management System — Federal High Court e-Affidavit portal
- E-Affidavit Client Portal — Federal High Court of Nigeria
- Document Authentication — Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Court affidavits — Abia State High Court
- Lagos judiciary makes e-affidavit mandatory for non-litigation matters from 1 June — Premium Times (5 Jun 2025)
- Oaths Act, Cap. O1 LFN 2004, s.10 (text hosted by PLAC)
- How to obtain Federal High Court affidavit online — The Telegraph (20 Sep 2026)
- Federal High Court Launches Portal For Online Affidavit Application — Lawyard (11 Sep 2024)
- HCCH status table: Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents
Fees and rules last checked 27 Sep 2026. The agency that issues the document has the final word. See our editorial policy.
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