Judiciary
Former governor Peter Odili’s international passport released

The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has released the international passport it seized from a former governor of Rivers State, Peter Odili.
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday revoked the N2 million fine imposed on the Legal Adviser of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Jimoh Abdulkadir Adamu, over alleged disobedience to an order of the court.
Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo reversed the order following detailed explanations that the seized passport of former River state governor, Dr Peter Odili has been returned to the owner since December 20, 2021.
Justice Ekwo discharged the penalty order made on December 21, 2021, having been convinced that the penalty order ought not to have been made.
NIS Lawyer, Jimoh Adamu, in a motion, filed exhibited a letter of request by Odili and other evidence showing that he has received the passport since December 20 last year at the Immigration headquarters in Abuja.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, before whom the case came up on Monday, noted that the fresh motion was not yet before the court.
Earlier in October 2021, Justice Ekwo ordered the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) to immediately release Odili’s international passport.
He declared the seizure by the service as illegal, unconstitutional, and an infringement of his fundamental rights.
The judge further ordered the service, to tender an apology to the former governor, and restrained the NIS from harassing and intimidating him from leaving the country or moving freely within the country.
Odili’s daughter, Njideka Nwosu-Iheme, is also a serving judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).