Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola has claimed that he was not aware of the directive that ordered the retirement of the current Acting Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Isah Idris.
The Minister made this statement while addressing State House correspondents at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday.
Earlier reports had suggested that the Governing Board of the Nigeria Immigration Service had served a retirement notice to the Acting CGI, Isah Idris, effective on or before April 24, 2023.
The board had cited the expiration of the one-year extension of service granted by President Muhammadu Buhari, directing the CGI to hand over to the most senior Deputy Comptroller General.
The memo, which was dated April 17, 2023, had the code number CDCFIB/APPT.CG&DCG/61/VOL.IV/74 and was signed by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board Secretary, Obasi Edmond, on the orders of the Board chairman and Interior Minister, Rauf Aregbesola.
It was titled “Notification of expiration of one-year extension in office as acting Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service.”
However, when asked to clarify the matter, Aregbesola denied having any knowledge of the directive, stating that “It is Greek to me.”
The retirement of the Acting Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service has caused concern among Nigerians, who are seeking clarity on the matter.
Many are questioning why the Minister of Interior, who is also the Board Chairman of the NIS, would claim ignorance of such an important directive.
This article was updated 3 months ago
