The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has opposed an application by former Governor of Rivers State, Peter Odili, seeking release of his passport.
Odili had filed the fundamental rights enforcement application before the vacation judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, alleging that his passport was seized at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja for undisclosed reasons.
Counsel to Odili, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), had informed the court that the passport serial numbers B50031305 was seized from him on June 20 by the NIS operatives.
In his affidavit Odili contended that the passport was seized from him upon his return to Nigeria from the United Kingdom where he had gone for his medical check.
However in its counter affidavit, deposed to by one Okwe Ernest of the Legal Department, the NIS averred that Odili’s passport was seized because he was on the watch list of the EFCC.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed has fixed September 28 for hearing.
