Nigerian immigration releases Ex-Governor Odili’s Seized Passport three months after court order

The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has finally released the international passport belonging to ex-Rivers Governor Peter Odili.

The passport of Odili was confiscated by the Immigration on the alleged order of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was released to him in his Abuja residence.

A Federal High Court in Abuja had on October 18, 2021, had ordered the agency to immediately release the passport of the former governor.

Inyang Ekwo, the judge, in the judgment held that there was no legal justification for the action the NIS took against the former governor.

Odili had approached the court to challenge the seizure of his passport by the NIS.

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

Odili had prayed the court to compel the two respondents to release the passport to him and he also sought a perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from further harassing, embarrassing, intimidating or interfering with his fundamental right to freedom of movement.

The former governor also demanded a written apology from the immigration.

In its response to the suit, the NIS tried to justify the seizure of Odili’s passport, saying it was prompted by a request from the EFCC.

“The applicant’s passport was seized because he is on the service’s (NIS’) watch list as requested by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC),” the service had told the court.