December 21 (THEWILL) – The Federal High Court in Abuja has awarded the cost of N2 million against the Nigerian Immigration Service for the unsatisfactory manner it handled the case involving the international passport of a former governor of Rivers state, Peter Odili.
Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the ruling on Tuesday citing the behavior of the NIS lawyer, J.A. Adamu towards the court’s directives in the case.
THEWILL reported that the NIS had instituted a motion before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja seeking a stay of execution on the judgement delivered by Ekwo which ordered the service to immediately release the international passport of the former governor.
On 18th of October, 2021, the Court, in a suit filed by Odili against the NIS and its Comptroller General, ordered the immediate release and return of his International Passport with number B50031305.
Ekwo had also ordered the NIS to write an apology to Odili for the unlawful seizure of his International Passport as well as the embarrassment meted to him.
About 37 days after the court judgment, the NIS on November 23 told the court to stay execution because it has appealed the judgment.
The NIS said in its affidavit deposed to by Ukwe Ernest that it is dissatisfied with the judgment delivered in the matter.
The NIS explained that it appealed for further interpretation of issues of law.
In his ruling, Ekwo had adjourned for hearing on the motion. However, Ekwo adjourned on the condition that the Immigration Service must submit Odili’s international passport with the court registrar as a condition for their motion to be heard on that date.
On Tuesday, Adamu was not in court to represent the NIS.
Ekwo was dissatisfied with the NIS lawyer’s absence and summoned him to appear on the next adjourned date of January 21.
The judge also directed the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation to take disciplinary action regarding the unprofessional conduct of the NIS lawyer.
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