No corruption under my watch, new Controller of Immigration tells officers

. Orders arrests of ex-governors still with diplomatic passports

The new Controller General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede, a week after his appointment, may have given a signal that it will no longer be business as usual.For a start, Babandede directed his officers across the nation to arrest all former governors, ministers and former lawmakers still in possession of diplomatic passports.

He gave the order yesterday in Abuja during a maiden briefing of Controllers at the NIS national headquarters, Abuja.

Babandede revealed that the service has retrieved about 158 diplomatic passports, he however said that in “view of an earlier publication for return of official/diplomatic  passports by former political office holders and retired public servants, it must be noted that charges will be pressed against unauthorised holders of such documents.

“This is because, such persons are no longer on the eligibility list and, therefore, in contradiction of section 10 of the extant Immigration Act 2015, I am, hereby, directing that unauthorised holders of such passports be arrested at the Airports and other points of entry/departure. Efforts will be made also to trace such unauthorised holders in their given addresses.”

On the activities of those he described as “heartless officers who are setting up illegal check points to extort Nigerians,” Babandede warned that from now on he will hold zonal controllers and state command responsible for such acts.

He also said the Service, under him, will cease rendering service like native doctors.

“I am setting up an anti-corruption squad, but, before this, I will hold the zonal coordinators and comptrollers responsible. I don’t need your blood money as organised crime law enforcement call ‘returns’.

“I am aware of money being extorted from passport applicants and, at various borders/check points in the country. What is happening in the liberated territories in the North East is most disturbing to me.

“Heartless Immigration officers set illegal check points in the  hinterland, to bully and extort money from citizens already devastated by Boko Haram insurgency. I will not accept this service to be the second grade of Boko Haram.”