Section 54: Liability of master of ship and captain of an aircraft. etc. for cost of deportation.

(1)
where a prohibited immigrant disembarks from any ship or water vessel. aircraft, motor vehicle or other means of transportation in Nigiria, the master, owner, operator and the agent of such ship or water vesser, aircraft, motor vehicle or other means of transportation shall be jointly and severally liable to pay to the Service all expenses incurred by the service in connection with the transport and maintenance of the prohibited immigrant and of his deportation from Nigeria.
(2) The amount of any expenses incurred shall be recoverable by action brought in the name of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
(3)
when an action, be it civil or criminal, has been brought against a master of ship or captain of an aircraft, driver of a vehicle or any operator of any other means of transportation under the provisions of this Act, the clearance outwards of the ship or water vessel, aircraft, motor vehicle, or other means of transportation may be refused until the case has been determined upon and such master, captain, driver, or other operator has complied with whatever order the court may issue in respect of the case.
(4)
when an action, be it civil or criminal, has been brought against a master of a ship or captain of an aircraft or driver of a vehicle or operator of other means of transportation under the provisions of this Act, the clearance outwards of the vessel or aircraft or vehicle or other means of transportation may be refused until the case has been determined, and until such master, captain or driver or operator has complied with whatever order the court may issue in respect of the case.