Why Ex-Gov Odili’s Passport Was Released – Immigration

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

Naija News earlier reported that the NIS had confirmed the release of the passport of the former governor on Monday in a motion submitted to the Federal High Court in Abuja.

At the court session on Monday, counsel to the service, Jimoh Adamu, said the passport was released to Odili in obedience to a court order issued last year.

Adamu said the daughter of the former governor, who is a serving judge of a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Njideka Nwosu-Iheme, collected the passport for her father on December 20, 2021, at the Immigration headquarters in Abuja.

He said the immigration service has already filed an appeal challenging the decision of the court which ordered the release of the passport, but it chose to obey the court’s order.

Adamu said the submissions made by Odili’s lead counsel, Ifedayo Adedipe, in previous courts sessions were misleading, thereby causing him and his client a lot of embarrassment.

He prayed the court to revoke the order for an N2million fine imposed against him and his client.

Responding, Ifedayo told the court that his client has confirmed the release of the passport.

In his ruling, Ekwo held that in view of the information from the NIS counsel and confirmation by Odili’s lawyer, the order made against Adamu and the immigration is hereby vacated.

The presiding judge, however, adjourned to May 25 for a report on the court of appeal proceedings.