Documents made available to our correspondent on Thursday, indicated that the American’s application for naturalisation was approved in 2004, by the former Minister of Internal Affairs, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.
According to the documents, Asuni was on July 15, 2004, granted the citizenship of the country with a certificate number A/000184, which was personally signed by the former minister.
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The certificate, dated February 27, 2004, identified Asuni’s husband as one Prof. Tolani Asuni and further identified the woman as a Conflict Management Consultant.
The Federal Government had through the Director of Public Prosecution, Mr. Salihu Aliyu filed an affidavit before the Federal High Court alleging that Asuni possessed Nigerian passport illegally.
The certificate read in part, “Whereas Dr. Judith Burlin Asuni has applied to me for a Certificate of Naturalisation/Registration as a citizen of Nigeria, alleging with respect to (himself/herself) the particulars set out below and has satisfied me that the conditions prescribed for the grant of a certificate of Naturalisation/Registration are fulfilled.
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“Now, therefore in exercise of the powers conferred upon me by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, I do hereby grant to the said Dr. Judith Burdin Asuni, this certificate of Naturalisation/Registration and declare that upon taking the oath of allegiance within the time and in the manner prescribed by law (he/she) shall be a citizen of Nigeria from the date of this certificate.
Findings further revealed that though the certificate was given to Asuni in 2004, the approval for her citizenship was made as early as September 2003.
A letter written to her from the Ministry of Internal Affairs which was dated September 15, 2003, with reference number MIA/nat/5879/1/24, conveyed the approval to her, but demanded that she met some conditions before receiving the citizenship.
The letter was signed on behalf of the minister by the Director of Citizenship and Business in the ministry, Mr. Alhassan M. Fawu.
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