HighlightTop StoryTrending Story

Travel passport seizure: Ex-Rivers Gov. Peter Odili thrashes EFCC, Immigration Service in court

122

 

“Seizure of Odili’s passport was contemptuous and constituted an infringement on his fundamental rights”– Judge

“He also restrained the NIS from further arresting, intimidating or harassing Odili and ordered the NIS to write a letter of apology to him for embarrassing him in the manner in which his passport was seized”

“He insisted that the claim by the NIS that Odili’s passport was seized because he was on EFCC watch list was done in violation and disobedience of an earlier court order”

The authorities of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) have been blasted by the court for seizing the travel passport of a former governor of Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili.

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered the NIS to immediately release the travel passport, saying it has no legal justification for the seizure.

Persecondnews recalls that Odili, who was governor of Rivers from 1999 to 2007 in the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, had approached the court to challenge the seizure of his travel passport by the NIS.

Delivering judgment in a suit on breach of fundamental rights filed by Odili, Justice Inyang Ekwo held that the seizure of Odili’s passport was “contemptuous and constituted an infringement on his fundamental rights.”

He also restrained the NIS from further arresting, intimidating or harassing Odili and ordered the NIS to write a letter of apology to him for embarrassing him in the manner in which his passport was seized.

He insisted that the claim by the NIS that Odili’s passport was seized because he was on EFCC watch list was done in violation and disobedience of an earlier court order.

According to the judge, the claim was not backed by any evidence for the court to consider.

“The reason given by the respondent for the seizure of the passport is that he was on the watch list of the EFCC.

“This claim is not backed by any evidence showing that the EFCC requested the seizure of his passport.

“It is settled law that any pleading that is not backed by evidence is of no effect,’’ the judge ruled.

Ekwo also held that Odili tendered a judgment in evidence showing that the EFCC had no legal backing to order that his passport be seized.

The judge equally dismissed the claim by the NIS that the person who instituted the suit was different from the person whose passport was seized saying it was one and the same person.

He said this was verified by comparing the photograph on the travel passport with the one on the process filed in court.

The court further held that the action of the NIS was primitive and a humiliation of Odili and that no Nigerian deserved to be treated in such manner regardless of class or status.

“The travel passport is not a document that can just be taken away from a citizen by the whims and caprices of any person.

“Such seizure must be done in strict compliance with the law,” Ekwo said.

According to him, law enforcement agencies must understand that they are first and foremost agents of the law and must act in accordance with the law.

Odili had told the court that his passport with number B50031305 was seized from him on June 20 by NIS officials for undisclosed reasons, shortly after he landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

In an eight-paragraph affidavit to which the former governor deposed, Odili said he landed at the airport from the United Kingdom where he had gone for his routine medical check-up.

“Upon arrival, my travel documents were checked and returned to him.”

He said while he awaited his luggage to be cleared, however, an Immigration official approached him and demanded for the passport on claim of routine check.

Odili told the court that he complied and handed his documents to the official who went away with his passport and failed to return it.

He said he is a law-abiding senior citizen of Nigeria that did not do anything to warrant the seizure of his passport, and urged the court to intervene.

He also asked the court to compel the NIS to release the passport to him, and sought an order of perpetual injunction stopping it from further harassing, embarrassing, intimidating or interfering with his fundamental right to freedom of movement.

In addition, Odili asked the court to compel NIS to write a letter of apology to him for the embarrassment.

Leave a comment

Related Articles

Just In: Delta military killings: DHQ declares Prof. Arthur, Amagben, six others wanted

The Defence Headquarters has declared eight people wanted over the recent killing...

Eniola Ajao apologizes over “AJAKAJU” movie premiere controversy

Actress Eniola Ajao has issued an apology to the public in the...

Just in: Soneye, NNPC Ltd.’s spokesman, wins NIPR’s Distinguished Spokesperson Award

Mr. Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company...

Ex-Presidential media aide, Akande criticises LP’s leadership, urges party’s alignment with national interest

Mr. Laolu Akande, a former presidential assistant, has expressed dissatisfaction with the...

Economic hardship: Ogun Govt. begins sale of rice at 50 percent price reduction to workers, public

Ogun Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has announced that his administration will start selling...

FG committed to steel industry revitalization to drive infrastructural development, says Industry Minister, Dr Uzoka-Anite

The Federal Government is committed to industry rehabilitation, with a focus on...

Pres. Tinubu pays last respect to 17 soldiers murdered in Delta State

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday extended scholarships to the children of the...

Easter: FG declares Friday, March 29, Monday, April 1 public holidays

The Federal Government has declared Friday, March 29, and Monday, April 1,...

Fake, unwholesome products: NAFDAC seals 10 bakeries, 8 table water factories in Rivers

The National Agency for Food and Drug Control (NAFDAC) has shut down...

Just in: Bodies of 17 slain gallant soldiers arrive at Abuja military cemetery for burial

The bodies of the 17 military personnel slain recently at Okuama, Delta...

Climate change, food security: AfDB approves $50 million for Yobe State

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has granted a $50 million loan...

Ex Guinea-Bissau President’s Son Jailed in U.S. for Drug Trafficking

Malam Bacai Sanha Jr, the son of a former president of Guinea-Bissau,...

Kidnappers ‘ll be treated as terrorists, they are cowards going after soft targets – Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has called for treating those involved in kidnapping as...

Few weeks to party primary, leading Ondo APC governorship aspirant, Dr. Paul Akintelure, passes away

Dr. Paul Akintelure, a prominent candidate for governorship in Ondo State who...

IPOB, bandits using betting sites, crowdsourcing to finance terrorism – NFIU

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), bandits, and other terror organizations are...

EU launches €9m energy projects in Nigeria

The European Union (EU) has unveiled two new initiatives worth €9 million...

Just In: Again, CBN increases interest rate to 24.75 percent

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)...

Don’t sell dollar above N1,269, CBN orders Bureau de Change

As part of measures to strengthen the naira against the dollar, the...

U.S. state bars under-15 children from having social media accounts

Florida State Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a bill prohibiting children younger...

Anguishes, deprivations as Lagos Govt. house demolition squad moves from Lekki to Ebutte Meta

Cries of anguish and deprivation followed the demolition of Ifesowapo, Ifedapo, Otto/Ilogbo,...