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We seized ex-Gov Peter Odili’s passport on EFCC’s order – Immigration tells court
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja insisted that the international passport of a former Rivers State Governor, Sir Peter Odili, was seized by its operatives on the order of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The agency begged the high court to dismiss a suit instituted by the former governor to compel the release of the passport to him.
Counsel to the Immigration, Mr Jimoh Abdulkadir Adamu, while defending the action of his clients tendered a letter by EFCC instructing Immigration to seize the passport because Odili was on the watchlist for some infractions.
Adamu also asked the court to reject the case because the name on the seized international passport did not correspond with the name of Peter Odili that instituted the court case.
Odili’s passport was on June 20, 2021, seized from him by operatives of the Immigration Service upon his arrival from a trip to the United Kingdom and has since been withheld.
Justice Inyang Ekwo has however fixed October 18 for judgment in Odili’s suit challenging the seizure of his international passport by the Nigeria Immigration Service.
Ekwo fixed the date after taking arguments from Chief Ifedayo Adedipe SAN who stood for the former governor and Mr Jimoh Adamu who represented the NIS and its comptroller-general.
Adedipe, while adopting his processes, prayed the court to order the respondents to return the international passport of his client on the grounds that it was unlawfully seized from him.
The senior lawyer submitted 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.”
Adedipe also asked the court to reject a letter from the EFCC exhibited by immigration to justify the seizure of the passport adding that the purported letter can not take the place of an order of a law court.
Odili had dragged the Nigeria Immigration Service and its Comptroller General before the federal high court in Abuja challenging the seizure of his passport at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja for undisclosed reasons.
In the fundamental rights enforcement suit, he had claimed that the international passport with numbers B50031305 was seized from him on June 20, 2021, by operatives of the Immigration Service and has since been withheld.
In an eight-paragraph affidavit he personally deposed to, the former governor claimed that the passport was seized from him upon his return to Nigeria from the United Kingdom where he had gone for his medicals.
Odili averred that on his arrival, his traveling documents were checked and given back to him and that while waiting for his luggage, an official of Immigration demanded the passport on a claim of routine check which he complied with but that the document has since been withheld.
He claimed to be a senior citizen of Nigeria, law-abiding, and had not done anything to warrant the seizure of the passport from him.
Odili prayed the court to compel the two respondents to release the passport to him and order of perpetual injunction against 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 for the embarrassment caused him by the Immigration.
However in a counter-affidavit by the Immigration Service, It was revealed that Odili’s passport was seized because he is on the watch list of the EFCC.
The affidavit deposed to by one Okwe Ernest of the Legal Department of the Immigration Service averred that Odili was watchlisted at the request of the EFCC.
The Immigration Service claimed that the former governor was not entitled to the request presented before the court and that his suit should be dismissed for being premature.
Deponent asserted that the action of immigration was a result of collaborations of all the Federal Government security agencies and that the respondents were only carrying out their statutory functions.
The affidavit said that since the passport was seized, Odili has never for once demanded its release or cared to know why it was seized.
Justice Ekwo announced that he would deliver judgment in the matter on October 18
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UK deports 43 to Nigeria, Ghana over immigration offences
UK deports 43 to Nigeria, Ghana over immigration offences
The United Kingdom has deported 43 individuals to Nigeria and Ghana, citing immigration offences, including failed asylum applications and criminal convictions.
In a joint statement released by the Home Office and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on Friday, UK authorities confirmed the removal but did not specify the exact date of the deportations.
According to the statement, the deportees included 15 failed asylum seekers and 11 foreign nationals who had completed prison sentences. An additional seven individuals reportedly returned to their home countries voluntarily.
“Those removed had no right to be in the UK and included 15 failed asylum seekers and 11 foreign national offenders who had served their sentences. Seven people returned voluntarily,” the statement noted.
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However, the government did not clarify how many were sent to each country or confirm if all were nationals of Nigeria and Ghana.
Since Prime Minister Keir Starmer took office, the UK has organized two charter deportation flights to Nigeria and Ghana, removing a total of 87 people. In October, a record 44 individuals were deported in a single flight to both countries.
This shift comes after the collapse of the controversial UK-Rwanda migration deal, which was ruled unlawful by the UK Supreme Court in 2023. The deal aimed to relocate asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing and resettlement.
In response, the UK reportedly signed a deportation agreement with Nigeria to facilitate the return of undocumented migrants.
Following the latest flight, UK Border Security and Asylum Minister Angela Eagle expressed gratitude to the Nigerian and Ghanaian governments for their cooperation, calling the operation an example of strong international collaboration.
The UK government also noted that over 24,000 individuals have been removed from the country over the past year—an 11% increase compared to the previous year.
UK deports 43 to Nigeria, Ghana over immigration offences
News
Zamfara okays 100% increase in NYSC members’ state allowances
Zamfara okays 100% increase in NYSC members’ state allowances
National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members posted to Zamfara State are set to receive double their previous state allowances following a directive by Governor Dauda Lawal.
The governor made this known on Friday during the opening ceremony of the 2025 Batch ‘A’ Stream I orientation course in Gusau. Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Malam Abubakar Nakwada, Lawal reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to corps members’ security and welfare.
“I am happy to inform you that I have directed the resumption of payment of state allowances to all corps members in the state.“I have also directed the upward increments of corps members’ allowances by 100 percent.“My administration is also willing to pay special allowances to the medical corps members serving in the state,” he stated.
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He also encouraged the 550 corps members deployed to Zamfara to embrace the state’s cultural heritage and traditions.
“I assure corps members of adequate security and warm hospitality throughout their year of service in the state.“I wish to reiterate that we will pay full attention to your security and welfare.“We will give you all the necessary support to carry out your duties and will provide everything necessary to make your stay here a memorable one,” the governor added.
In his remarks, NYSC State Coordinator Mohammad Ahmad expressed gratitude for the state government’s ongoing backing of the scheme.
“We appreciate the state government for adequate provision of additional facilities as well as approval for the payment of state allowances to corps members,” Ahmad said.
Zamfara okays 100% increase in NYSC members’ state allowances
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Just in: Factional Zamfara assembly leaders want governor to represent budget
Just in: Factional Zamfara assembly leaders want governor to represent budget
A factional House of Assembly has emerged in Zamfara state with members demanding the re-presentation of the 2025 Appropriation Bill by Governor Dauda Lawal.
The group, made up of nine lawmakers who were suspended in February 2024 over allegations of misconduct, conspiracy, and illegal sitting, convened in Gusau, the state capital, and declared the formation of a parallel legislative body.
At the session, the lawmakers elected Hon. Bashir Aliyu Gummi as Speaker of the factional assembly.
During the sitting, the faction addressed several issues, including the state’s deteriorating security situation, economic challenges, and the recent reports of mass sackings within the state civil service allegedly carried out by the Lawal administration.
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The group further demanded that Governor Lawal re-present the 2025 budget, arguing that the process followed in its initial passage was flawed. The governor had originally submitted the N545 billion Appropriation Bill to the widely-known State House of Assembly led by Speaker Bilyaminu Ismail Moriki in December 2024. The bill was passed and signed into law that same month.
Present at Wednesday’s session were Hon. Aliyu Ango Kagara (Talata Mafara South), Ibrahim Tudu Tukur (Bakura), Nasiru Abdullahi Maru (Maru North), and Faruk Musa Dosara (Maradun 1). Others included Bashar Aliyu (Gummi 1), Bashir Abubakar Masama (Bukkuyum North), Amiru Ahmed (Tsafe West), Basiru Bello (Bungudu West), and Mukhtaru Nasiru (Kaura Namoda North).
Just in: Factional Zamfara assembly leaders want governor to represent budget
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