Headlines

Real Reasons Buhari Sacked Immigration CG

Published

10 years ago

May 23, 2016

Aterse memo with reference No HMI/002/Vol 1/484, titled Notification of Retirement addressed to the Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service received
on 18 May 2016 for the CG, signed by the Abdulrahaman B. Dambazau, Lieutenant General
(Rtd), Honourable Minister of Interior. terminated the headship of Nigeria’s frontier guards,
The memo which which read, “I write to notify you that the last day of your service in the
Nigeria Immigration Service has lapsed on Sunday, 15 May 2016 in accordance with the extension granted you vide PRES/92/ INTR/7 dated 4 March 2016.
Consequently you are to handover to DCG Mohammed Babadede (NIS/4817 as the Ag. Comptroller General of Immigration effective immediately.)”,
Harmless as the memo may read, , insiders at the Service
and the Ministry of Interior said this un ceremonial retirement might not be unconnected to
several reports of nepotism, his unanswered query of 12th December 2011 when he was an
Assistant Comptroller General copied to the Directorate of Investigation, Intelligence and Enforcement signed by R. B Musa Deputy Comptroller General (Admin) for Comptroller General and, other sundry misgivings going on in there.
The query read “The Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service has noticed with dismay, that your conduct, during your tenure as Commandant of Immigration Training School, Kano (ITSK) was unsatisfactory in the following respects: General Indiscipline in the School,. Various forms of Extortion, Brutal Punishments and Un-Ethical Relationship among Lecturers and Trainees”, adding that the hammer fell on him as a way to reposition the Service in line with the change mantra of the present government.
Retired CG Abeshi whose date of birth and educational credentials according to documents made available to nationalTRAIL were confusing, also was battling with some contract scandals during his days as DCG (Procurement and Logistics), under the suspended former CG Paradang which warranted a publication in the New Telegraph of Monday August 31, 2015 titled “How Corruption, Indiscipline thrive Under Paradang, By Moro”, the then Minister as well as another petition to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Department of Criminal Investigation, FCID, Area 10 Garki Abuja tagged “Re: Corruption Stinks Under The Present Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service – A Case in Point is the Fraudulent Execution of Official Quarter at No. 1 Air Border Patrol Camp Old Airport , Kawo” made by the former Special Assistant to Former Hon. Minister of Interior, Mr. Ime Unaowo Nta, then a Chief Superintendent of Immigration and, now an Assistant Comptroller.
nationalTRAIL gathered that investigation into a memo emanating from the Office of Deputy Inspector General of Police now the IGP, dated 15th January, 2015 with ref. No. CR: 3000/X/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.178/32 addressed to the then Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service titled “Investigation Activities, Letter of Invitation”, was stalled by his successor.
Meanwhile, while the Nigeria Immigration Service were trying to grapple with the secret and shrouded recent recruitment exercise conducted by the former CG Mr. Martin Abeshi led-Service, hitherto referred to as “replacement exercise” which Immigration watchers tagged, “slots for a tiny cabal of Immigration officers and the ministry of Interior”, the Comptroller-General, Mr. Abeshi on 15th April, 2016, dropped yet another bomb shell, which some short changed staff of both the Service and the Ministry say is “the most shameful and embarrassing foreign posting ever in the history of the Service policy”.
A document exclusively made available to nationalTRAIL which was signed by Comptroller-General Martin Abeshi on 15th April, 2016 titled, “Foreign Posting Order” has a total of forty eight officers of various ranks ranging from Inspector to Deputy Comptroller of Immigration who have god fathers as Abraham benefiting.
A breakdown of the postings according to the memo shows that forty eight officers are posted to serve as Immigration attachés’ in our foreign missions as follows.Australia-Canberra (HCFRN)-2, China-Beijing (EFRN)-3, Germany-Berlin (EFRN)-3, India-New Delhi (HCFRN)-4, Italy-Rome (EFRN)-3, Ireland-Dublin (EFRN)-3, Malaysia-Kuala Lumpur (HCFRN)-2 and Saudi Arabia-Jeddah (CGFRN)-3.
Others are South Africa- Johannesburg (CGFRN)-1, South Africa-Pretoria (HCFRN)-1, Spain-Madrid (EFRN)-4, UK-London (HCFRN)-5, USA-Atlanta (CGFRN)-3, USA-New York (CGFRN)-4, USA-Washington DC (EFRN)-3, Brazil-Brasilia (EFRN)-2 and Jamaica-Kingston (HCFRN)-2.
A woman officer, who spoke to nationalTRAIL on behalf of her colleagues that pleads for anonymity for fear of the unknown, pointed out some fundamental issues why they believe that the posting is not only a sham but a 419 or one chance posting. She narrated that the said posting did not reflect the usual federal character or the change mantra of the President Muhammadu Buhari led-administration.
The concerned officer and some Interior ministry staff alleged that about five newly recruited officers who have no practical and professional knowledge of Immigration duties are among those posted to represent the Service in the “Foreign Missions Posting Order”.
They maintained that most of the officers are relatives of top management staff. For instance they continued “The former CG used his position to field his own people in the said foreign without any recourse to the federal character policy.
The aggrieved officers however, admitted that there are also few credible, professional and competent officers in the said list that deserve the foreign posting”. The concerned staff wondered, “If this was how the Hon. Minister of Interior handled the Army when he was the Chief of Army Staff”, because according to them, “With a short period of his supervisory role, the agencies under his supervision are enmeshed with recruitment and promotion racketeering among others and this seems not to be too good for the image of the government in power”.
They argued that both the Foreign Affairs staffs as well as the Army personnel on attaché assignments abroad are always sent on professional competence, experience and length of service. They said, “It is high time the President directs the National Security Adviser and the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to urgently investigate all the crises that have not only bedeviled the agencies under the Hon. Minister of Interior, but the role played by the Ministry in either stemming the tide or using subtle approach to support unholy acts”.
When contacted on 14th May, 2016 at about 12.15pm, the Director of Press in the Min9istry of Interior, Mr. William Bassey denied any knowledge of the Foreign Posting Order. According to him, “No information to that effect came to my table; you can better find out the true position from my colleague the PRO, Mr. King Ekpedeme in the Service”.
At exactly 12.25pm when the Service PRO Mr. King Ekpedeme’s consent was sort, he in summary told nationalTRAIL that none that made the posting was recruited in less than 2011 and that the present posting is better than the previous year in geographical spread. He said, “There is no special thing in the exercise many are criticizing. It is like the normal postings such as to the air and sea ports as well as the land borders and so on. Again, having someone bearing the same with the CG or DCG doesn’t mean that that person is their son but a coincidence by name”, Ekpedeme explained.
However, unconfirmed list on another petition dated 6th May, 2016, titled “Corruption, Bribery and Nepotism, Marred the recent Foreign Posting Order released at Nigeria Immigration Service Headquarters” signed by DCI Julius Adejo NIS/7301 and CSI Adamu Garba Yunusa NIS/23620 to President Muhammadu Buhari and copied to the Ministers of Interior, Foreign Affairs, CG Immigration, DG, DSS, SGF, Perm Sec Interior, Senate Committee on Interior and House Committee on Interior describe the foreign posting as lopsided The petition read, “We are compelled to bring to your notice some act of nepotism and sectionalism which is greatly retarding the growth and progress of the NIS due to the influence of some highly placed individuals in the ministry of Interior and the Service.
In conclusion the petitioners state, “We wish therefore to implore the President and Commander-in-Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari in the spirit of his change mantra of fighting corruption, ineptitude and waste in governance to swiftly and resolutely investigate this attitude and avoid this foreseeable waste of scare resources on the people who will definitely dent the image of the country which is gradually recovering from the years of bad image”.
nationalTRAIL checks reveal that at least three former ministers of Interior and five former Comptrollers-General of Immigration including the immediate-past CG Paradang now on suspension were unceremoniously removed from office due to one form of scandal or the other.

Headlines

2027: THE MANY WARS IN PARTIES

Published

2 months ago

June 1, 2026

Our Reporter

☆ ADC, PDP, NDC, LP Tacle APC Amidst Internal Wranglings.
☆ Party primaries trigger godfather vs godson clashes.
By: Our Special Correspondent.

Election periods always make Nigeria a political melting pot. Tensions, intrigues, violence, manipulations and grandstanding have been the order.
2027 may not be an exception, as already, the polity is heating up and political players are up in arms.
Between political parties, battle lines are being drawn.
It is no longer news that, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the ADC and former Anambra state governor, Peter Obi of the NDC have secured the presidential tickets for their various political parties, ahead of the 2027 elections.
While Nigerians await the outcome of the presidential primaries for the other parties, it is apparent that the leading dramatis personae of the 2023 presidential election debacle, are set to square it out again in 2027.
But, while most, if not all the opposition political parties are emershed in multi-dimenssional crisis, the stage seems set for dirtier political schemings, in the quest to wrestle power from the ruling APC.
With the apparent collapse of the much talked about coalition, frontline candidates may again go into the election as a divided house, as the parties are further polarized by the attendant crisis arising from the just concluded primaries.
The ruling APC, also faced with similar crisis following the primaries. The primaries of all the parties seem to have sparked internal wranglings
across Edo, Delta, Lagos, Oyo, Kano, Rivers and other states. In most states, the primaries for governorship, Senate and House of Representatives seats have triggered deepening crises between governors, former governors, senators and entrenched party blocs.
While one may regard such disagrerments as normal and could be resolved before the main election, the disagreement between President Tinubu and the opposition may linger.

The President is fighting hard to ward of attacks over his failed promises which were made in 2023, as campaign issues.
Similarlly, the issue of insecurity, fuel subsidy, pol8cy summersault, and general cost of living have been brought to the front burner, in political discourse.
Tinubu told Nigerians on Friday that subsidy removal and forex reforms have revived investor confidence, lifted market cap to 250,000 points, and drawn new oil and gas investment. He also said security operations have “intensified” against bandits, separatists and insurgents.
But critics insist that Tinubu’s camp is working to cripple opposition parties reminescent of the Abacha-era dark days.
In apparent move to realign forces and reshape 2027, NDC’s Peter Obi has announced Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as his running mate.
Obi told a gathering brfore naming Kwankwaso as his running mate, that, the Vice President office under him, will be “an active partner, not ceremonial”. The NDC held a special convention Saturday to affirm Obi as flagbearer where he promised 10,000MW electricity generation. Labour Party has also presented Dr. Chibuzo Okereke as its presidential candidate, a lowly rated personality.
At the sub-national level, political players are pulling the strings from different end. Most governors are being accused of imposing their cronies as governorship, senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates.
The national leadership of the APC has been struggling hard to adress the widespread crisis occassioned by the primaries. The APC, in Lagos amidst the internal wars, has picked Princess Damilola Sonayon-James as running mate to Lagos governorship candidate Dr. Obafemi Hamzat. Both are seen as stooges of the governor and by extenssion the President.
In Rivers, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has vowed that, the APC “Rainbow Coalition” will agree on one governorship candidate and that ADC’s Atiku won’t get 10% of Rivers votes. Though the candidate has not yet been named.
Wike also declared “Rivers has no option but to back Tinubu”.
In several states, there have been massive decampments from the APC in particular, because of unfavourable outcomes of the primaries.
All these point to a turbulent outing for the APC, even as the ruling party.
As for the opposition parties, they all have been emasculated, and may not be able to pose much threat to the ruling APC.
While the political wranglings were going on the most serious threat to the APC remains the rising concern over insecurity. The issue seem to have ignited anger across the country, with Federal Workers Forum threatening an indefinite nationwide strike over rising insecurity and unresolved wages. SERAP, has meanwhile urged the UN Secretary-General to invoke Article 99 over Nigeria’s “escalating insecurity—mass abductions, killings, displacements”.

Headlines

“Nigeria Is in a Hurry to Celebrate Victory Over Enemies of the State,” Says Tinubu as He Decorates New Service Chiefs

Published

9 months ago

October 30, 2025

Our Reporter

By: Fabian Apechihin

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged the newly appointed service chiefs to discharge their duties with utmost dedication and renewed commitment, declaring that “Nigeria is in a hurry to celebrate victory over enemies of the state.”

The President made this statement on Thursday during the decoration ceremony of the new service chiefs with their ranks at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Those decorated were General Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant-General Wahidi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Air Marshal Kennedy Aneke as Chief of Air Staff, and Vice Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff.

The ceremony was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima and the spouses of the newly promoted officers, who joined the President in performing the decorations.

In his address, Tinubu underscored the central role of security in fostering national development and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting the lives and property of all Nigerians.

“Security is an essential element without which everything else becomes meaningless,” the President stated. “There can be no sustainable development if this fundamental need is not met. Our people and our nation must remain secure to enjoy the dividends of governance.”

The elevation and decoration of the new military chiefs followed their confirmation by the National Assembly on Wednesday, after a closed-door screening session with lawmakers.

It will be recalled that, in a recent overhaul of the nation’s military hierarchy, President Tinubu appointed:

Lieutenant General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff,
Major General Waidi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff,
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff,
Air Vice Marshal Sunday Aneke as Chief of Air Staff, and
Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye retained as Chief of Defence Intelligence.

The new appointments mark a strategic restructuring of Nigeria’s security leadership aimed at strengthening the fight against insurgency, banditry, and other threats to national stability.

Headlines

FG Dismisses Coup Rumour, Reaffirms Confidence in Nigerian Military

Published

9 months ago

October 20, 2025

Our Reporter

By: Fabian Apechihin

The Federal Government has dismissed widespread rumours of an alleged military coup plot against President Bola Tinubu, declaring its full confidence in the loyalty and professionalism of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made this known in an interview with The Punch on Sunday, insisting that the administration has “no reason whatsoever” to doubt the assurances given by the Defence Headquarters, which had earlier denied reports linking the detention of 16 military officers to a coup attempt.

“The Federal Government has no reason to doubt the military on what it has said,” Idris stated.
“We believe the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain committed to protecting the nation’s territorial integrity and strengthening the fight against insecurity. The government commends their sacrifice and will continue to support them in safeguarding the country.”

The minister’s remarks came a day after the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, firmly debunked a report by Sahara Reporters alleging that the detention of 16 officers was connected to a failed coup plot and the cancellation of the 65th Independence Day parade.

Gusau described the publication as “false, mischievous, and deliberately aimed at creating unnecessary tension and public distrust.”

He clarified that the cancellation of the October 1 Independence Day parade was a purely administrative decision — taken to allow President Tinubu attend a key bilateral meeting abroad and to enable military units sustain ongoing counterinsurgency operations nationwide.

On the issue of the detained officers, Gusau said their case was “an internal disciplinary process” and not related to any political matter.

“The investigation involving the 16 officers is routine, aimed at upholding discipline and professionalism within the ranks,” he explained. “An investigative panel has been constituted, and its findings will be made public in due course.”

Reaffirming the military’s constitutional role and unwavering commitment to civilian rule, Gusau stressed emphatically: