Affidavit and its uses in Nigeria

In this blog we are going to explain what affidavit is and what it is not. I will educate us on different types of affidavits and what they are used for in our everyday activities.

What is an Affidavit? It is a statement of fact stated and sworn to before a notary public or commission for oath. According to Wikipedia an affidavit is a written statement voluntarily made by an affiant or deponent under an oath or affirmation which is administered by a person who is authorized to do so by law. The Osborn’s Concise Law Dictionary defined an affidavit as a written sworn statement of evidence.

In deposing to a fact in an affidavit, the deponent must state whether the fact deposed to are within his or her knowledge or it’s a matter of information and belief. The source of such information and belief must be stated in the affidavit.

An affidavit is not an argument or stories about an event. It is fact which the deponent believes to be true.

An affidavit must be commissioned before a notary public or a commissioner for oath for it to be acceptable in law.

Read: ADOPTION IN RIVERS STATE

Different types of Affidavit and their uses

There are different types of affidavits and their uses differs too. Affidavit of change of name cannot be used for loss of document or other things. Some of the Affidavit we have are

1. General Affidavit: these are the affidavits that are used in court for the proceeding of court cases. They are usually deposed by the parties to the case or a witness.
2. Statutory Declaration of Age: this is used in place of Birth Certificate. It is obtained when one’s birth certificate is lost or damaged.
3. Correction of name on Birth certificate: as the name implies, it is used to correct an error made on one’s birth certificate.
4. Affidavit of Bachelorhood or Spinsterhood: where one’s marital status is in doubt, he or she can swear to an affidavit of Bachelorhood or Spinsterhood as the case maybe.
5. Declaration of Marriage: this is to declare that one is legally married. It is usually for couples that wants to travel abroad. It is presented at the embassy in addition to the Marriage Certificate.
6. Biometric Update: it is used to update your biometrics.
7. Correction of Sim registration details: if there is an error in the details of your Sim registration, this affidavit is ideal.
8. Change of Name: In the case of a married lady or a man that wants to remove or add a name to his name.
9. Change of Vehicle Engine Number
10. Change of ownership (vehicle): these 2 affidavits can be used by vehicle owners in the case of purchase of new engine or a new car.
11. Correction of name: This is used where there is error in the spelling of one’s name.
12. Correction of date of birth or date of death: as the name implies.
13. Affidavit of Good Conduct: schools especially Universities requires such affidavit from freshers (year One) to show that they are of good conduct. The deponent of this type of affidavit is usually a respected member of the society who is well known to the person involved. The class of people that depose to this type of affidavit are; lawyers, priest or clergymen, professors etc. Employers also ask for such affidavit from new employee.
14. Affidavit of Loss of Sim: Telecommunication companies usually ask for this type of affidavit when one comes to retrieve a lost or stolen phone lines
15. Affidavit of loss of Passport/ Credentials: This type of affidavit is used when one’s International Passport or Credentials is lost or damaged.

These are some of the Affidavits and their uses. There more Affidavits, it can be created to suit your peculiar need. Are you in need of any type of Affidavit? You can reach out to us.

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