THE Nigerian Immigration Service on Tuesday applied for the leave of a Federal High Court in Abuja to file fresh evidence against a former governor of Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili, on why his travelling passport was seized.That Odili’s passport was on June 20, 2021 seized by operatives of the NIS upon arrival from the United Kingdom and has since been withheld.

The agency said it took the action on the ground that Odili was placed on the watch list by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over an alleged economic issues.

Odili had since taken the NIS and its Comptroller-General before a Federal High Court, asking the court to compel the NIS to release the passport to him.

But at the hearing of the matter on Tuesday, counsel for NIS, Jimoh Adamu, informed the court that his clients were willing to file fresh evidence against the ex-governor.

Adamu specifically told Justice Inyang Ekwo that the NIS and the CG intend to file a better and further counter affidavit to justify the seizure of the passport.The lawyer for Odili, Chief Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), in his own argument, said he would file better and further affidavit in support of the originating summons filed for his client.

Justice Ekwo, in a brief ruling, fixed Friday October 8 for further hearing in the matter and ordered the two lawyers to file and exchange all their processes ahead of the date.The NIS had also filed counter affidavit to oppose the suit of the former governor and served same on Odili as required by law.