Why We Seized Ex-Gov Odili’s Passport – Immigration Service

The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has revealed why they seized ex-Gov Odili’s passport.

According to The Nation, court had fixed judgment for Monday, October 18.

Why We Seized Ex-Gov Odili’s Passport - Immigration Service
Peter Odili

The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has explained why it seized the international passport of former Rivers State Governor, Peter Odili.

In a document filed before a Federal High Court in Abuja, the NIS said it seized the passport upon a request to that effect from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which claimed to be investigating Odili.

The NIS urged the court to dismiss the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Odili, with which he is challenging the seizure of his passport.

While arguing the case yesterday, Odili’s lawyer, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) contended that his client’s right to own property was violated by the NIS because it failed to obtain any court order before seizing the passport.

Adedipe urged the court to order the respondents – the NIS and its Comptroller-General – to return his client’s passport which they unlawfully seized from him.

He also urged the court to disregard the respondents’ claim that Odili was on the watch list of the EFCC, noting that up till now, his client has neither been interrogated nor charged with any offence.

“The applicant is a senior citizen of Nigeria and is 73 years old, a former deputy governor, a two- time governor of Rivers and an accomplished medical doctor as well as a holder of national honours.

“The EFCC is not a body that can instruct Immigration to seize passport in place of a court order,” Adedipe said.

He urged the court to reject a letter from the EFCC, tendered by the respondents to justify the seizure of the passport.

Adedipe noted that the purported letter could not take the place of an order of a law court.

Responding, respondents’ lawyer, Jimoh Adamu, tendered the letter from the EFCC requesting the NIS to seize Odili’s passport on the grounds that he was on its watch list and was being investigated.

Adamu also urged the court to reject the case, because the name on the seized international passport did not correspond with the name of Peter Odili that instituted the court case.

Odili’s passport was seized on June 20, 2021 by operatives of the NIS at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja upon his arrival from a trip to the United Kingdom.

After listening to both lawyers, Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned till October 18 for judgment.

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