Immigration: Why we seized passport of #EndSARS activist

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) says the passport of Modupe Odele, an #EndSARS advocate, was not seized as a result of the campaign against police brutality.

Odele, a legal practitioner and member of the Feminist Coalition, had narrated how NIS officials stopped her from travelling out of the country.

The Feminist Coalition, which is the promoter of the #EndSARS protest, raised about N147 million for the cause.

The lawyer, who was actively involved in the campaign, offered legal aid to persons who were arrested during the demonstration.

Speaking with Punch on Thursday, Sunday James, NIS spokesman, said the passport was seized as part of a routine border assignment.

He said whenever a restriction is placed on any individual, the immigration service is responsible for its enforcement.

James added that the action is unconnected to the #EndSARS protests.

“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,” he said.

“So, it is a routine assignment and it has nothing to do with EndSARS. 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.”

The federal government has been accused of generating a no fly list of #EndSARS promoters — but it denied this claim.