A lawsuit by international human rights lawyer Emmanuel Ogebe challenging the plan of the Nigerian Embassy in USA to revoke his Nigerian passport due to his advocacy and alleged criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari has begun in an Abuja court.

The case came before Hon Justice Taiwo in Court 10 of the Federal High Court last week.

The cause of action arose following the discovery of a memo from the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, DC seeking to revoke the passport of the US-based Nigerian human rights lawyer for testifying about Nigeria in the United States Congress.

The Nigerian government, represented by a counsel from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), requested time to study the documents filed by plaintiff’s counsel. The matter has been adjourned to May 6, 2019.

Ogebe is seeking the following reliefs:

A DECLARATION that the planned revocation of the Applicant’s Nigerian Passport with the sole aim of punishing and “preventing him from making further derogatory comments that are inimical to the image of Nigeria” and “Mr. President” by agents of the Respondents is a violation of the Applicant’s right to freedom of expression and the press, freedom of association, freedom of assembly, personal liberty and right to freedom of movement as guaranteed by Sections 39,40,35,37,38, 40 and 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Articles 2,4,6,7, 9 (2),10 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.

A DECLARATION that “Exhibit OGEBE 2” attached hereto was authored in bad-faith, malicious, ill-conceived and an outright abuse of office aimed at persecuting, and stopping the activism of the Applicant in violation of Sections 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), Articles 2, 4, 7, 9 (2), and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Article 19 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1949, Article 19 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, Declaration of principles on freedom of expression in Africa, General Comment 10 [19] (Article 19) of the Human Rights Committee (CCPR/C/21/Rev.1 of 19 May 1989), General Comment 11 [19] (Article 20) of the Human Rights Committee (CCPR/C/21/Rev.1 of 19 May 1989), The public's right to know: Principles on Freedom of Information Legislation. Annex II Report E/CN.4/2000/63

AN ORDER OF PERPETUAL INJUNCTION restraining the Respondents either through themselves, servants, privies or agents from violating the Applicant’s fundamental right in any manner whatsoever and howsoever without lawful justification.

ANY OTHER ORDER (S) this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstance (s) of this case.

Update news