Deportation: Ex-Navy Man Seeks N12b Damages

Retired naval personnel, Igwe Dennis Nwaokpara, has asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to compel Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) to pay him N12 billion damages for its role in his removal from Kenya.

 Nwaokpara, who runs an agro-allied business in Kenya, alleged the country’s immigration service returned him to Nigeria hours after he arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, following a request by NIS.

 The applicant, in his application: FHC/L/C3/895/2022 filed through his counsel Mr. Ademola Owolabi, claimed the incident occurred on June 10, 2017.

He claimed further that he was detained and handed over by NIS to Police Special Fraud Unit, adding there was no court proceeding before the “extraordinary rendition”.

He said despite his detention for months, the police established no allegation against him, and he was released.

Nwaokpara said upon his release from SFU custody, NIS refused to return his passport.

He noted that his extraordinary rendition/arrest and/or detention and confiscation of his passport were unlawful.

Nwaokpara prayed the court for nine reliefs, including a declaration that his arrest in Kenya and refusal to produce him before a Kenyan court for extradition were unlawful.

He is also seeking a declaration that his alleged “deportation/extraordinary rendition” was illegal, adding that the confiscation of his international passport Ao6128442 since June 13, 2017, was unlawful, and unconstitutional.

He further prayed, among others, for an order directing NIS to “forthwith” release his  international passport and direct NIS to write to Kenyan Immigration Service that he was neither a criminal nor was he being investigated by the Federal Government.

The suit comes up on November 9, before Justice Yellim Bogoro.