The Nigeria Immigration Service, has released a Germany-based
Nigerian, Ahmed Ibrahim, who was detained at the Murtala Mohammed
International Airport, Lagos State, for being a suspected terrorist.
Ibrahim's passport with number A03211082, is however still in NIS custody.
The Immigration Service Public Relations Officer, Emeka Obua, who
confirmed this in Abuja on Tuesday, explained that Ibrahim, a chef
based in Germany, was released on the directives of the National
Security Adviser, after investigations showed that it was a case of
mistaken identity.
He explained that Ibrahim was mistaken for a terror suspect on the NIS
watch-list with the same name as the chef, adding that he was released
within 24 hours because the service was mindful of his rights.
Obua said, "His identity tallied with that of a terror suspect and
based on this, the Immigration officers at the Murtala Mohammed
Airport alerted the service headquarters and he was detained and asked
to be brought to Abuja, but after checking his biometrics, and
investigations in collaboration with other security agencies, we found
that he is not the one in the watch -list and he was released with
apologies."
Obua stated that Ibrahim's purpose for visiting Nigeria, was to
celebrate Sallah with his family members.
He denied reports that Ibrahim was manhandled by immigration
personnel, adding that though the chef "made a lot of noise when he
was stopped by personnel from boarding his flight, but all that is
normal and nobody rough-handled."
Meanwhile, the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, has ordered the
Nigeria Immigration Service to deliver travel passports to Nigerians
within 24 hours in compliance with President Goodluck Jonathan's
charge.
Speaking during the 2014 Comptroller-General Annual Conference in
Abuja, the minister stated that anything contrary to his order is
unacceptable.
He said, "The service must recommit to seamless service delivery at
home and in the Diaspora. Particularly, we must comply with Mr.
President charge that travel documents must be delivered to Nigerians
within 24 hours, anything to the contrary is unacceptable.
"Business as usual will no longer be tolerated, while corruption and
extortion will be appropriately sanctioned."
He expressed the hope that the agency would evolve new strategies and
render selfless and patriotic service, while shunning corruption and
extortion.
Moro stated that the new 64-page e-passport would ease travel plans of
Nigerians and save them the burden of carrying multiple passports and
inject integrity into the nation's passport with its enhanced security
features.
The minister noted that through enhanced border patrols, and
collaboration with Port Health Officials, the spread of the Ebola
virus disease had been contained.
PUNCH
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