Court dismisses El-Zakzaky’s suit against NIS

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday dismissed an application filed by Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenah, which sought an order compelling the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to issue them their international passports.

The suit was filed on their behalf by the Falana Falana Chambers, as a fundamental rights application.

Funmi Falana had contended that her clients’ right were being violated by relevant stakeholders, who allegedly refused to return or reissue their travel documents, which they need to get medical care in hospitals overseas.

El-Zakzaky claimed that his passport was seized and apparently destroyed in 2015 when security forces invaded his domain.

But the NIS, as well as other respondents, denied violating the plaintiff’s rights on the matter.

In a ruling on Thursday, Justice Obiora Egwuta held that the applicant has not provided sufficient evidence in court to show that his passport was either seized, destroyed, lost or the relevant agency was unwilling to reissue another one to him.

“From the position of the applicant, it was not shown that it was the respondent who took his passport but rather that the passport was destroyed or lost in 2015 when his residence was attacked by security operatives.

“This application is accordingly dismissed”, Egwatu said.