Immigration denies issuing Visa to ISIS chief
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has denied playing any part in the process that led to the issuance of the Nigerian Visa to the wanted ISIS chief, Ahmed Al Assir in Lebanon.
The Comptroller General of the NIS Martin Kure Abeshi made the remark while speaking at the Service headquarters in Abuja yesterday.
“From the record available, the Immigration Service did not issue that visa. It might be the officials of the foreign affairs ministry because they also issue visa on our behalf,” the NIS boss said.
He however said the NIS went into action to arrest those connected to Al Assir immediately it gathered an intelligence that he was coming to Nigeria.
“When we were told that the person [Al Assir] was heading to Nigeria, the people the man was coming to visit were identified by our men. Our officers in Kano went into action and arrested the two of them immediately and handed them over to the National Security Adviser,” Abeshi maintained.
Besides, he said the Service has threatened to publish the names of former ministers, governors and members of the national and state assemblies who are illegally in possession of official and diplomatic passports soon.
It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari on 7th September, 2015 directed the NIS to retrieve the documents from all illegal holders, mostly former top public office holders but the Comptroller General said most of them have not complied yet.
Abeshi noted that the passports could also be submitted to Comptrollers of the State commands across the country that has been mandated to collect the documents from the illegal holders
He however, revealed that over 200 passports have been retrieved since this directive was given.