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The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has stated that the passport of Modupe Odele will continue to remain in their custody until the restriction order is lifted.
Modupe “Moe” Odele, a legal practitioner and member of the Feminist Coalition – a group supporting the EndSARs campaign – had narrated how she was stopped from traveling out of the country for her birthday and her passport withheld. This led to outrage as people accused the government of intimidation.
The Spokesman for the NIS, Mr. Sunday James, told The Punch that Moe’s passport was seized as part of a routine border assignment.
Speaking on Thursday night, November 5, Mr. Sunday James noted that the passport’s hold has nothing to do with her involvement with the EndSars campaign but has to do with an enforcing restriction order.
He said, “When there is a directive from any agency of government not specific, we have to enforce either entry or restriction of entry by anybody who has been directed not to be allowed exit or entry and as a matter of fact, we cannot as a border management agency, allow anybody who has been restricted from leaving the country to go out and we cannot allow anybody who has been restricted from entry to enter.
“So, it is a routine assignment and it has nothing to do with End SARS. We are the lead agency for the security management of the border. It has to do with the restriction order which we are duty-bound to enforce.”
Abass Latifat
