Immigration probes female traveler who tore husband’s Passport at MMIA, as suspect explains action
By Emma Ogbuehi
Amidst confusion over possible reasons that could have led to a female traveler tearing her husband’s passport at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA), over the weekend, the Nigeria Immigration Service NIS on Monday said it has launched a formal investigation into the action.
The probe by the NIS follows a viral video on social media, showing the traveler destroying a Nigerian Standard Passport at the Airport (MMIA, Lagos.
The move by the NIS comes as the lady in question, described as Ella Jeffery said her action was the culmination of long-standing marital and family tensions
Service Public Relations Officer, DCI Kenneth Udo disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja.
He said the individual has been identified and invited for further investigation. “If the allegations are substantiated, her actions would have constituted a breach of Section 10(b) of the Immigration Act 2015 (as amended), with corresponding penalties outlined under Section 10(h) of the same Act
“The Nigeria Immigration Service remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding the provisions of the Immigration Act in the interest of national security, and to preserving the dignity and integrity of the nation’s legal instruments”, he stated.
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Explaining the reasons for her action, Mrs. Jeffery said it was borne of long standing dispute with her husband, Mr. Joe Jeffrey, especially over his inability to stave off pressures from siblings and members of his family.
The dramatic incident, which quickly went viral on social media, sparked widespread debate, with many questioning the extreme action.
In a video posted on the couple’s family Facebook page, (jejojafamilytv), Ella Jeffery said her action was the culmination of long-standing marital and family tensions.
“I am not a mad woman,” she stated, dismissing the notion that her actions were irrational or impulsive.
She explained that she has been enduring significant stress in the marriage, particularly due to her husband’s close ties with his family, which she described as overbearing.
“I have been going through a lot, and He’s a mummy’s boy, sister’s boy. I did what I did. Nobody can arrest me. I suffered with him,” Ella explained.
She stressed her actions were a last resort after enduring years of frustration and feeling unheard.
She emphasised that while many online commentators were quick to judge based on the viral video, they lacked context for her actions.
“You have to ask what happened, don’t just look at the actions alone,” she urged viewers, adding that she felt compelled to act after arriving in Nigeria from Europe, where she had been silently enduring the struggles.
“I have my reasons,” she said, stressing that her breaking point was after dealing with persistent family issues and l husband’s inability to stand up for her.
Ella also revealed that she had lost control of her social media pages, which had been managed by her husband.
This, she claimed, was part of the control her husband exerted over her, further compounding her sense of helplessness.
“Is it when I die that you all will say that this woman didn’t speak up?” she asked rhetorically.
The incident has sparked a larger conversation about marital dynamics and the pressures faced by spouses in difficult relationships.
The husband, Joe Jeffery is yet to publicly respond to the Passport incident or his wife’s statements.
