The former governor had dragged the Nigeria Immigration Service and its Comptroller General before a 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 claimed that the international passport was seized from him on June 20, 2021 by operatives of the Immigration Service and has since been withheld.
In an 8 paragraph affidavit, 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 for the passport on claim of routing 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 Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed 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 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 watch listed 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.
The respondent asserted that the action of Immigration was as 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 for its release or cared to know why it was seized.
When the matter came up on Wednesday, counsel to Immigration Service Mr Jimoh Abdulkadir Adamu informed Justice Mohammed that he had just filed counter affidavit to oppose the suit of the former governor and served same on him as required by law.
Adamu, the Legal Adviser to the two respondents, sought a brief adjournment to enable him put his house in order.
Odili's lawyer, Chief Ifedayo Adedipe SAN did not oppose the request for the short adjournment
Justice Mohammed subsequently fixed September 28 to hear the matter.
Odili, a medical doctor, deputy governor between 1992 and 1993 and two term substantive governor of Rivers State between 1999 and 2007, is the husband of Justice Mary Odili of the Nigeria’s Supreme Court.
from dailypost
But Odili has a perpetual injunction to block EFCC from spying him. APC leave Odili alone, Nigeria is crumbling, economy hard, boko haram are killing, naira is valueless, you people should face these issues and leave Odili alone. He will not tow the path of Akpabio, make una rest.
ReplyDeleteHerein lies the problem with Nigeria.
DeleteCitizens wanting the government to drop what they consider as mundane things and go for bigger fish.
The government can and should investigate/persecute Odili if guilty of any crime, while trying to save the economy, insecurity etc etc.
We shouldn't drop one to pursue another.
So you don't realize that Nigeria's problems is as a result of all the Odili locusts parasiting the land? How many Odilis should be let go? What if those to tackle these problems you mentioned are also Odilis in nature? What then will get solved? Dump this Odili reasoning. It has not helped so far.
DeleteYou and Mrs Diana 👇 there are part of the problems of Nigeria.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWhich mumu watchlist is that, abeg make them leave that man, no be their money? Na Niger Delta money. All the money garba Shehu & co dey chop Efcc no dey see that one.
ReplyDeleteAnd so what if it's Niger Delta money???
DeleteA thief is a thief and should be persecuted if found guilty
But they should drag Diezani. Anyway, it is no longer Niger Delta money. It is now South African and Emirati and Western Money.
DeleteMedical doctor they fly go another country for medical check-up.
ReplyDeleteDo we have senior and junior citizens?
Help me ask them oooo
DeleteNigeria my country.I don't even know what to believe again. EFCC under baba Bubu na money for hand, back for ground.
ReplyDeleteAs usual na witch-hunting level, until I see a politician in Nigeria found guilty and sentenced to like 20-30 years in prison with hard labour and is seen to have serve out his time, then I will believe this Efcc, until then all na wash.
ReplyDeleteWow. See comment!! Some Nigerians truly deserve the crap leaders they get. E never do you?
ReplyDeleteOdili knew he commited a lot of financial crimes. So his wife quickly got him perpetual injuction or immunity to persecution.
ReplyDeleteHe has lost political value and integrity..
Now he is gradually loosing his freedom of movement.
His crimunal shadows will forever follow him all the days of his life.
Is it prosecution y'all are typing as persecution?
ReplyDelete