Justice INYANG EKWO of the Federal High Court in Abuja, has ordered the Nigerian Immigration Service to immediately release the international passport of a former governor of Rivers State PETER ODILI.

The judge while delivering his judgement declared the seizure by the service as illegal, unconstitutional and an infringement of his fundamental rights.

He further ordered the Immigration service to tender an apology to the former governor, and restrained them from harassing and intimidating him from leaving the country or moving freely within the country.

Justice EKWO added that the seizure of the former governor’s passport, was a punitive act and no citizen should be treated in such a manner, irrespective of status.

The former governor had filed a suit against the immigration service challenging the seizure of his passport at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on 20 June 2021, upon his arrival into the country.