The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has fixed Oct. 8 to hear the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by former Rivers State Governor, Peter Odili against the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
At the resumed hearing of the matter on Tuesday, Odili’s counsel, Mr Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) told the court that the NIS served him a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter.
Adedipe noted that he received other court processes but was served the preliminary objection shortly before the commencement of the hearing and that he needed time to respond.
Defence counsel, Mr Jimoh Adamu acknowledged serving the preliminary objection on the plaintiff counsel on Tuesday and did not oppose the application for an adjournment to enable him respond.
The trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo has adjourned the matter till October 8 and urged Adedipe to ensure that he serves his respond on defence counsel before the next adjourned date.
Justice Ekwo added that on the next adjourned date, the process of any party absent in court would be deemed as adopted.
Odili dragged the NIS to court on the grounds that the service breached his fundamental rights when it seized his travel passport.
The NIS, however, told the court that the former governor’s passport was seized because he was placed on the watch list of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, ( EFCC).
Odili asked the court to compel the defendant to release the passport to him and he is also seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the defendant from further harassing, embarrassing, intimidating or interfering with his fundamental right to freedom of movement.
The former governor equally demanded a written apology from the Immigration Service.
