The Nigerian Immigration Service has withdrawn all diplomatic passports in the hands of former public office holders and has ordered them to hand them over to the service.
Comptroller General of the Immigration Service, Martin Abeshi, in a statement on Monday noted that the move is based on President Mohammadu Buhari’s directive and said,
“These categories of persons are hereby informed that these passports which were previously held by them have been revoked and should return them to the Nigeria Immigration Service Headquarters Sauka Abuja with immediate effect,”
The statement gave the categories as former governors, former ministers, former senators, former members of the House of Representatives, and former members of state Houses of Assembly.
Others include former commissioners, former special advisers/special assistants, former chairmen/deputy chairmen of local government areas, all retired heads of parastatals and retired public servants.
The statement further said that “Failure to comply with this directive will amount to an offence under the Immigration Act 2015. Such unauthorised possession will be impounded at our control posts on arrival or departure.”
