SSS operatives who seized his passport gave no reason for their action but merely asked him to pick it up in Abuja. The incident caused a mild stir at the airport, attracting the attention of Igbo leaders and top government officials who intervened on behalf of Ojukwu.

Nigeria's High Commissioner in Britain, Dr. Christopher Kolade, who was alerted by some concerned citizens, was said to have informed President Obasanjo in far away Finland about the incident. The president reportedly immediately called SSS Director General ordering Ojukwu's passport released to him.

Ojukwu's KLM Flight was said to have left before the president's intervention forcing him to abandon the journey. He returned to his 29 Queen's Drive residence in Ikoyi, Lagos. The SSS, it was further gathered, returned his passport to him at about 1 am Wednesday morning.

Ojukwu had been ill for some time but continued to postpone his trip abroad for medical treatment until his condition grew worse according to sources close to him.

The seizure of Ojukwu's passport was least expected from the SSS who recently declared their invitation to him for an interview a mistake.

APGA national chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie described the development as "sad and unfortunate." "I thought we had resolved the matter cordially and amicably. The SSS should allow sleeping dogs to lie. For the agency, in spite of the subsisting court order, to go ahead and embarrass the Ikemba in this manner is most provocative", he added.