Intels seeks to stop revocation of employees’ work permits

A firm in which former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has
interest, Intels Nigeria Limited, has commenced a move to challenge
the decision of the Comptroller-General of Immigration revoking the
residence/work permits of 102 expatriates in its workforce.

The company has filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, a
suit numbered, FHC/ABJ/CS/1180/2017 and dated November 24, 2017,
seeking leave to apply for a judicial review of the Nigeria
Immigration Service’s decision.

The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Muhammed Babandede, is
the only respondent in the suit, which was filed on behalf of
Intels by its lawyer, Adeniyi Adegbonmire (SAN).

The NIS had on November 15, 2015 stated that the residence/work
permits of Intels’ expatriate employees had been revoked.

It also directed that the affected expatriates should leave
Nigeria on or before November 30, 2017.

The hearing of Intels’ application for the court’s leave was
scheduled to hold on Monday, but the hearing could not go on,
because the respondent was not represented by his lawyer during the
proceedings.

But Adegbonmire said hearing notice and the court’s order
directing the respondent to show cause why the prayers being sought
by the applicant should not be granted were served on the
Immigration boss.

The judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, adjourned until January 10,
2018, but ordered the respondent be given another chance to appear
in court.

The applicant specifically asked for the court’s declaration
that the decision of the Nigeria Immigration, “is unlawful,
unconstitutional, wrong and void ab initio.”

A firm in which former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has
interest, Intels Nigeria Limited, has commenced a move to challenge
the decision of the Comptroller-General of Immigration revoking the
residence/work permits of 102 expatriates in its
workforce.

The company has filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, a
suit numbered, FHC/ABJ/CS/1180/2017 and dated November 24, 2017,
seeking leave to apply for a judicial review of the Nigeria
Immigration Service’s decision.

The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Muhammed Babandede, is
the only respondent in the suit, which was filed on behalf of
Intels by its lawyer, Adeniyi Adegbonmire (SAN).

The NIS had on November 15, 2015 stated that the residence/work
permits of Intels’ expatriate employees had been revoked.

It also directed that the affected expatriates should leave
Nigeria on or before November 30, 2017.

The hearing of Intels’ application for the court’s leave was
scheduled to hold on Monday, but the hearing could not go on,
because the respondent was not represented by his lawyer during the
proceedings.

But Adegbonmire said hearing notice and the court’s order
directing the respondent to show cause why the prayers being sought
by the applicant should not be granted were served on the
Immigration boss.

The judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, adjourned until January 10,
2018, but ordered the respondent be given another chance to appear
in court.

The applicant specifically asked for the court’s declaration
that the decision of the Nigeria Immigration, “is unlawful,
unconstitutional, wrong and void ab initio.”