El-Zakzaky, Wife drag DSS, FG To Court for seizure of their international passports, demand N2 Billion for damages

Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, and his wife Malama Zeenah Ibrahim, have separately taken the Department of State Services and the Attorney General of the Federation to the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging the seizure of their international passports.

The Vice President, Media Forum of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Abdullahi Usman, in a statement noted that their fundamental rights enforcement suit no FHC/ABJ/CS/230/2021 is being filled by Falana Chambers.

Sheikh Zakzaky and Malama Zeenah Ibrahim brought to the notice of 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 explained that subsequent to this, the duo had since declared their passports lost, saying that upon attempting to renew the passports through immigration it was revealed that their 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.”