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Intels seeks court order stopping deportation of 102 expatriate staff

By Bridget Chiedu Onochie, Abuja
12 December 2017   |   2:09 am
Intels Nigeria Limited has approached the Federal High Court, Abuja seeking an order granting it leave to apply for judicial review of the decision by the Comptroller General of Immigration to revoke the residence/work permits of 102 expatriates in its workforce. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar owns Intels. Adeniyi Adegbonmire (SAN) filed the suit dated…

Court

Intels Nigeria Limited has approached the Federal High Court, Abuja seeking an order granting it leave to apply for judicial review of the decision by the Comptroller General of Immigration to revoke the residence/work permits of 102 expatriates in its workforce.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar owns Intels. Adeniyi Adegbonmire (SAN) filed the suit dated November 24 on behalf of Intels.

The Comptroller General of Immigration, Muhammed Babandede, the only respondent in the suit, had on November 15 issued a press statement that the residence/work permits of Intels expatriate staff had been revoked.

Babandede further issued a directive that the said persons should leave the Nigerian territory on or before November 30.

The action filed by Intels was pursuant to Order 34 Rule 3 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2009.
However, the matter, which was for mention yesterday, could not go on because of the absence of legal representation for the respondent.

Adegbonmire, who announced appearance for Intels, told the court that hearing notice and the order asking the respondent to show cause why the reliefs being sought by the applicant should not be granted, were served on the Immigration boss.

Consequently, the presiding judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed adjourned the matter till January 10, 2018.

The applicant is specifically asking the court to declare that the decision of the Nigerian Immigration “is unlawful, unconstitutional, wrong and void ab initio”.

It is also seeking a declaration that the respondent acted ultra vires when he proceeded to issue or authorized/directed the issuance of a press release dated November 15, with reference No. NIS/HQ/PRU/267/V.1, to the effect that the residence/work permits of the expatriate staff of Intels stand revoked, and further issuing a directive that the said persons shall leave the territory of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on or before November 30, without first giving the applicant or the said persons the opportunity to be heard.

Others are: “A declaration that the failure of the respondent to communicate with the applicant or to formerly notify the applicant of his decision as herein before stated prior to the revocation or purported revocation of the residence/work permits of the expatriate staff of the applicant is unlawful and wrong.

“An order of certiorari quashing the decision of the respondent, as conveyed in the Nigeria Immigration Service Press Release dated November 16, 2017 with reference NIS/HQ/PRU/267/V.1 and written under the hand of the Service Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service upon the directions and authorisation of the respondent, by reason of the fact that the said decision is illegal, procedurally unfair, unconstitutional, unreasonable and /or irrational.

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