Court dismisses El-Zakzaky’s suit against Immigration Service, DSS, NIA

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday dismissed a suit filed by leader of the proscribed Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenah, seeking an order compelling the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS ) to reissue them international passports.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in a judgment, held that the couple failed to provided sufficient evidence to show that their passports were either seized, destroyed, lost or that the relevant agency was unwilling to reissue travel documents to them.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that El-Zakzaky and wife, through their lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, in January 2022, sued the NIS and its Comptroller General as 1st and 2nd defendants for alleged refusal to issue new international passports to them.

Also joined in the suit are the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Department of State Services (DSS) as 3rd and 4th defendants respectively.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/22/2022, the applicants prayed the court to enforce their fundamental rights enshrined in the Nigerian constitution and the African Charter of Human and Peoples Right.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in a judgment, held that the couple failed to provided sufficient evidence to show that their passports were either seized, destroyed, lost or that the relevant agency was unwilling to reissue travel documents to them.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that El-Zakzaky and wife, through their lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, in January 2022, sued the NIS and its Comptroller General as 1st and 2nd defendants for alleged refusal to issue new international passport