The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja presented a letter from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) instructing it to seize the international passport of ex-Rivers governor Peter Odili.
NIS counsel Jimoh Adamu presented the letter to the court, saying Mr Odili was on EFCC watchlist for some alleged infractions.
The NIS prayed the court to dismiss the suit instituted by Odili.
Mr Adamu also asked the court to reject the case because the name on the seized international passport did not correspond with Odili who instituted the court case.
Odili’s passport was on June 20, 2021, seized from him by NIS operatives upon his arrival from a trip to the United Kingdom and has since been withheld.
Odili’s lawyer Ifedayo Adedipe had argued that the right of Odili to his property was violated by the immigration because there was no order of court before the passport seizure was effected.
He prayed the court to discountenance the claim of the respondents that Odili was on the watch list of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, adding that up till now, his client had not been interrogated or criminal charge instituted against him for 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 honors,” he said.
“EFCC is not a body that can instruct immigration to seize passport in place of a court order.”
Justice Inyang Ekwo, however, fixed October 18 for judgment in Odili’s suit challenging the seizure of his international passport.
