Anti-corruption panels asks Nigeria Immigration Service to prevent 39 officials from travelling abroad

NAMES of 39 politicians including former senate president Senator David Mark and ex-speaker of the House of Representatives Dimeji Bankole have been submitted to the Nigeria Immigration Service (Nis) to prevent them travelling abroad over corruption allegations.

Yesterday, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, the chairman of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Funds (SPIPRPP), revealed that the names were submitted in accordance with the provisions of the Executive Order No 6 of 2018. He added that those whose names were on the list were suspected treasury looters and his agency along with the Nigerian Intelligence Agency, is investigating them and others allegedly implicated in the Paradise Panama Papers.

Chief Obono-Obla said the list also included the All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate  in Imo State Senator Hope Uzodinma and the Tumsah brothers Tijani Tumsah and Ibrahim Tumsah. He added that the presidential panel has requested that the Nis place a travel ban on these people who are alleged to have abused their offices and looted our commonwealth.

“The panel is investigating Tijani Tumsah, the vice chairman of the Presidential Initiative on North East and Ibrahim Tumsah, the director of finance and accounts, Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, for alleged abuse of office, corruption and possession of unaccounted suspicious wealth beyond their legitimate earnings. The panel has recovered an assortment of 86 brand-new luxury and sophisticated cars from the duo and 23 of those vehicles are bullet-proof without the requisite permits.

“Also recovered from them are several choice properties, located in highbrow areas of Abuja and a quarry in Kuje, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The panel has since obtained an interim order of forfeiture from FCT High Court in Abuja in respect of these properties," Chief Obono-Obla said.