(4) If the petitioner does not reside in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the petition shall state an address
within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, at which the petitioner may be served with any summons, notice,
order of Court or other process.
(5) Where it appears on the presentation of a petitioner that the petitioner does not reside in the Federal Capital
Territory, Abuja, the petition shall not be filed until security for costs, by deposit of money or otherwise, has
been given to the satisfaction of the Registrar:
Provided that where the petition is filed through a legal practitioner, an undertaking by him, in a form to be
approved by the Registrar, to be responsible for the costs shall be sufficient.
6. The respondents to a petition shall be the Attorney-General of the Federation and all persons whose interest
may be affected by the legitimacy declaration asked for and the Court may, at any time, direct any persons not
made respondents to be made respondents and to be served with the petition and affidavit and may adjourn the
hearing of the petition for the purpose on such terms as to costs or otherwise as may be just.
7. The petition shall be accompanied by an affidavit made by the petitioner or by his next friend (if any),
verifying the facts of which he has personal knowledge and deposing as to his belief in the truth of the other facts
alleged in the petition and the affidavit shall be filed with the petition.
8. (1) There shall be filed with the petition as many copies of the petition and the affidavit as there are
respondents to be served and also two copies for the use of the Court.
(2) There shall be lodged with the petition every birth, death or marriage certificate intended to be relied upon at
the hearing.
9. (1) A copy of the petition and a copy of the affidavit shall be delivered or sent by registered post by the
petitioner to the Attorney-General of the Federation at least two months before the petition presented or filed.
(2) Any document or notice addressed to the Attorney-General of the Federation shall be addressed to him at
Attorney-General's Chambers, Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja.
10. (1) A sealed copy of the petition and affidavit shall, unless the Court otherwise directs, be served by a bailiff
or by a police constable fifty-six days at least before the hearing on every respondent (other than the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation) personally and the petition and every copy to be served on a respondent (other than
the Attorney-General of the Federation) shall be endorsed with a notice in the prescribed form.
(2) At least fifty-six days' notice of the day whereon the petition will first be heard shall be given by the
Registrar to the Attorney-General of the Federation.
11. (1) A respondent may within twenty-eight days after service of the petition upon him file an answer to the
petition.
(2) Every answer which contains matters other than a simple denial of the facts stated in the petition shall be
accompanied by an affidavit made by the respondent verifying such other matter as far as he has personal
knowledge thereof and deposing to his belief in the truth of the rest of such other matter.
(3) There shall be filed with the answer as many copies of the answer and the affidavit (if any), as there are other
parties to be served and also two copies for the use of the Court.
(4) The Registrar shall within forty-eight hours of receiving them send by post one sealed copy of the answer and
the affidavit (if any), to the petitioner, the Attorney-General of the Federation and any other respondents.
12. Evidence on the hearing of the petition shall be given orally:
Provided that the Court or a Judge in chambers may, on application made before or at the hearing, for good
cause shown, direct that any particular fact or facts alleged in the petition or answer may be proved by affidavit.
13. The Court may make such orders as to costs as it thinks just.