The leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, and his wife, Malama Zeenah Ibrahim, have sued the Department of State Service and the Attorney General of the Federation over the seizure of their international passports.
A statement by the Vice President, Media Forum of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Abdullahi Usman, revealed that the IMN leader and wife instituted the suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
According to him, Sheikh Zakzaky and Malama Zeenah Ibrahim fundamental rights enforcement suit on FHC/ABJ/CS/230/2021 was filed by Falana Chambers.
In the suit, the IMN leader notified the court that their passports were last seen in possession of the National Intelligence Service (NIA) who have officially denied that it’s in their possession.
The statement added that the duo’s passport had been missing, noting that efforts to renew the passports through immigration showed the passports had been flagged by the DSS.
It said all official requests to the DSS to remove the restriction have since then been ignored.
They prayed the court to compel the two respondents to release the passports to them or lift the ‘Red Flag’ restrictions on their passports as well as enforce their fundamental rights to freedom of movement, adding that a perpetual injunction stopping the respondents from further harassment and intimidating behavior should be granted.
They also prayed the court to mandate the respondents to pay the sum of N2 billion as general and exemplary damages for the violation of the applicants’ rights to freedom of movement, fair hearing, and property.
According to the statement, “They said in the absence of any court order, the seizure of the passports by the respondents constituted a threat to their lives since they have denied them the opportunity to seek urgent medical attention outside the country as recommended by their Physicians.”
