Jonathan former aides, Abati, Adegbe, Obua, others stripped of passports

According to a report by Vanguard , about 12 of former
president Jonathan's former aides, including presidential
spokesperson, Reuben Abati, Aide-de-Camp, Col. Ojogbane
Adegbe and Chief Security Officer, Gordon Obua, have been
stripped of their official/presidential passports.
A competent source told Saturday Vanguard that the
decision to withdraw the official passports of the former
aides of Dr Jonathan was to prevent misuse and conflict
with new aides and officials of President Buhari, who
assumed duties on May 29. It could not be established last
night whether the affected officials were ordered by the
Presidency to surrender the passports or whether they did
so voluntarily. But Saturday Vanguard learned that the
affected former aides of Jonathan had already returned the
passports to the Presidential Villa preparatory to being
handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS.
Another source hinted that the withdrawal of the former
president’s henchmen’s travel documents was to prevent
some of them who have some issues to explain to the new
administration from leaving the country and being given
preferential treatment at their destinations.
“Don’t forget that some of these officials may be needed
here to answer some questions relating to their tenure,” the
source said.
However, the Nigerian Immigration Service said last night
that there was no ill-motive in withdrawing the official
passports of government officials who had completed their
assignments. NIS Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joachim
Obua, explained that it was normal for officials of
government to surrender their official passports at the end of
their tenure.
“It is important for the position to be made clear that official
passports are not the property of anyone holding it. Once
you complete your assignment you have to return it to the
NIS,” he explained.
Source: Vanguard

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