By James Orji
General Kenneth Minimah (rtd.), a former Chief of Army Staff, COAS would not be allowed to leave the country except he clears his name over alleged involvement in a N13.8 billion defence equipment procurement fraud, the federal government has said.
This was disclosed by the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS in its response to a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Minimah before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/561/2021, the retired four-star Army General said he was stopped from travelling abroad after the NIS seized his passport at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
According to Minimah, in the suit filed by his lawyer, Mahmud Magaji, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN his travel documents were seized without good explanations, asking the court to declare the action of NIS as violation of his fundamental rights, demanding that his passports be returned to him.
He said “on the 19th of April, 2021, the applicant (Minimah) was scheduled to travel to Poland sequel to a letter of invitation sent to him inviting him to attend the AIBA Youths Men’s and Women’s World Championship 2021.
“To the greatest shock and dismay of the applicant, on approaching the clearance desk at the international wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, he was stopped by agents of the Nigerian Immigration Service and prevented from boarding.
“The agents of the first respondent (NIS) informed him that he was not permitted to travel out of the country pursuant to the directives of the second respondent (CIS Umar) who seized his international passport.
“No reason was given to the applicant by the second respondent with regards to the unlawful seizure of his passport”.
But, in its response to the suit, NIS said its action was based on a directive by the federal government, adding that the agency did not violate Minimah’s rights as being claimed. NIS said the General’s problem has to do with his investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
“The withdrawal of the applicant’s international passport by the respondents is lawful, legal, constitutional and valid.
“The withdrawal of the applicant’s passport by the respondents does not amount to a violation of the applicant’s fundamental right.
“The EFCC had on two different occasions in the past requested that the applicant be watch-listed by the respondents and when the applicant reported to the EFCC on those two occasions, the EFCC again requested that the applicant be de-listed from the respondents’ watch-list which was done,” the NIS said.
Last December, Minimah was charged alongside an erstwhile Chief of Accounts and Budget of the Nigerian Army, A. O. Adetayo, a major-general, and the former Director, Finance and Accounts of the Nigerian Army, R. I. Odi, a brigadier-general, at the Federal Capital Territory High in Abuja, over an alleged arms procurement fraud of over N13 billion.
