The N2 million fine imposed on the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, and its lawyer, Jimoh Abdulkadir Adamu has been revoked.
The Immigration Service confirmed to a Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday that the seized passport of the former Rivers State Governor, Peter Odili has been returned to him.
NIS said the passport seized on the order of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC was returned to Odili on December 20, 2021.
Lead counsel to Immigration, Jimoh Adamu in an affidavit of compliance dated 6th but filed on the 7th of February, 2022, told Justice Inyang Ekwo that the document was released to Odili based on the judgment of the Federal High Court.
He, however, explained that the Immigration Service had already filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal in Abuja to challenge the order of the Federal High Court to release the passport to the applicant.
The Counsel protested the alleged embarrassment caused him and his client by the lead counsel to Odili, Ifedayo Adedipe SAN, by allegedly misleading the court on December 21, 2021, that the passport had not been released to his client.
He urged the court to revoke the two million naira fine imposed on him and the immigration on the grounds that the passport was released on December 20, 2021, whereas the order imposing the fine came on December 21, 2021, 24 hours after the passport was released through Odili’s daughter who is a Judge of the FCT High Court, Njideka Nwosu-Iheme.
The counsel tendered the letter of acknowledgement by Dr Odili confirming the receipt of the document and urged the court to reverse the two million naira fine and to also reverse another order asking the AGF to penalize him.
Odili’s Counsel, Ifedayo, confirmed that his client, Dr Peter Odili had received the passport.
In his brief ruling, Justice Ekwo held that given the information by the Counsel to NIS and the confirmation by Odili’s lawyer that the order of the court has been obeyed, the fine imposed on the Service and its Counsel and another order that they are penalised by the AGF be reversed.
The judge subsequently fixed May 25 for a report from the Court of Appeal proceedings in respect of the appeal against the Federal High Court judgment.
