The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) yesterday refused to renew a passport to a caterer, Ms Mosopefoluwa Odeseye, who provided food to #EndSARS protesters and helped in sourcing for funds for a wounded protester.
Punch reported that Odeseye, whose account was frozen by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in October, announced in a tweet that she was denied a passport by the NIS on Wednesday.
She said she had gone to renew her passport at the Alausa Passport Office, Lagos, but was informed that she had been blacklisted and was asked to proceed to Abuja.
She tweeted: “First, it was Central Bank locking up all my bank accounts, now it is Nigerian immigration not issuing my passport at Alausa! To what end, Nigeria? To what end? I applied for a re-issue at Alausa, captured some days ago and asked to come pick today then I’m told that I have been blacklisted?”
Attempts to speak with the spokesman for the NIS, Mr. Sunday James, proved abortive as he did not respond to a phone call.
However, a top immigration officer, who confirmed the development, said they were acting based on orders from above.
“We have asked her to see the Assistant Comptroller General in charge of passports at the head office in Abuja. We are only acting on instruction,” she said.
The CBN had in October asked banks to freeze accounts of some persons involved in controlling #EndSARS funds.
The bank had told a Federal High Court that they are under investigation for terrorism, an allegation they have all denied.
The #EndSARS protests which rocked the nation in October, was later hijacked by hoodlums leading to deaths and destruction of properties.
