V Vemal Arasan said the order was emailed to Momoh’s wife, Low Kar Hui, yesterday evening, asking her to prepare arrangements for his flight back to Nigeria.

He said that according to the deportation order, Momoh is deemed a prohibited immigrant pursuant to Section 8(3)(d)(i)(ii) of the Immigration Act.

Vemal also told High Court judge Ab Karim Ab Rahman during a habeas corpus hearing to seek the release of Momoh that he had been unable to meet with his client at the detention centre yesterday.

He said immigration officers told him there had been a power outage.

He said he needed to see Momoh to enable them to prepare a proper submission, adding that the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) had agreed for him to liaise with his client.

Karim set next Wednesday for a full hearing of his habeas corpus application.

Vemal told reporters later there was no provision in the law to compel Momoh’s wife to purchase a flight ticket for him to leave the country, adding that they may be writing an appeal to the government.

He also said he had asked the AGC to instruct the immigration authorities to allow him to see Momoh next Monday.

Vemal filed the habeas corpus application on April 1, naming the Immigration Department, the Prisons Department and the home ministry as respondents.

Momoh, who has been married to Low for the past eight years and has a valid visa, was arrested at a roadblock in Cheras in the early hours of March 15 on suspicion of drink-driving.

He pleaded guilty in court the same day, paid the RM12,000 fine, and Low was told he would be released at 5pm.

However, he has been detained at the Semenyih detention centre since then.

Authorities previously denied access for Vemal and Low to meet Momoh, citing Covid-19 restrictions.