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Disquiet in Immigration over promotion of retired ACG

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The promotion of Assistant Comptroller General of Immigration, Garba Bello, who retired in June, to Deputy Comptroller of Immigration, is causing disquiet in the Nigeria Immigration Service.

Senior officers, who were overlooked in the recent promotion exercise, faulted Bello’s promotion as illegal and vowed to petition President Bola Tinubu over his recall from retirement.

Bello, with NIS number 10892, was born on June 3, 1964, enlisted in the service in 1990 and retired on June 3, 2024, having clocked 60 years.

This was in line with the Public Service Rules, which pegged the mandatory retirement age at 60 or 35 years in service, whichever comes first.

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As part of his retirement, the service management held a send-off for the former ACG in charge of investigation at the NIS headquarters in Abuja.

However, in what appeared to be a violation of the Public Service Rules, the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board listed Bello as one of the ACGs elevated to DCG.

Apart from Bello, other promoted ACGs include Anietum Essien, Umanah James, Micheal Dike, George Dikel, Tukur Umar, Afolayan Ayeni and Usman Nagado.

A letter, with reference number, NIS/HQADM/4193/II/204 dated August 2, 2024, announced that Bello and seven others would be decorated with their DCG rank on Wednesday at the NIS headquarters.

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The letter, titled, ‘Decoration of newly appointed Deputy Comptrollers General of Immigration,’ was signed by ACG Didel, on behalf of the CGI, Kemi Nandap.

It read, ‘’Further to letter Ref: CDCFIB/APPT/CG&DCG/61/VOL.V/59 of July 29, 2024, on the forwarded list of newly appointed Deputy Comptrollers General of Immigration, I am directed to request your presence at the decoration ceremony of the under-listed senior officers scheduled to hold as follows:

“Date: Wednesday, 7th August, 2024; Venue: Muhammad Babandede Conference Centre, Service Headquarters, Abuja. Time: 11am prompt. Accord top priority, please.”

It was further gathered that some junior officers were promoted over their seniors in the promotion exercise.

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A look at the seniority list indicates that Didel, Umar and Ayeni were elevated above ACGs Sadiq Adebowale and Ngozi Odikpo, who are their senior in service.

While Didel, Umar and Ayeni were promoted to ACG in January 2023, Adebowale and Odikpo had been on the ACG rank since January 2022.

Commenting on Bello’s recall, a senior officer, who did not want to be named for security reasons, said, “The Supreme Court had held that once a civil servant has retired, his employment with the government ends and he cannot be re-appointed or promoted within the civil service. Any subsequent engagement is treated as a new contract.

“In Federal Civil Service Commission vs Laoye, the court reiterated that promotions are part of career progression within active service and cannot apply to someone who has retired. So, the board cannot justify this illegality.’’

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When asked why Bello was recalled from retirement and promoted, the NIS spokesman, Kenneth Udo, simply said, “Because he wrote the (promotion) exams.’’

Asked to justify the decision, he said, “But I am not part of the process. We have a board that handles promotion and the minister is the chairman. So, this enquiry should be directed to them.’’

But the Secretary to the CDCFIB, Ja’afaru Ahmed, could not be reached for comment on Sunday as calls to his phone indicated it was unavailable. He had yet to respond to a text message seeking his comment on Bello’s recall and promotion.

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NSCDC, Tantita intensify joint efforts to combat oil theft in Niger Delta

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The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL) have intensified their joint efforts to eliminate economic sabotage in the Niger Delta, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda set forth by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

As part of his inspection of NSCDC operations in the area, Commandant-General Dr. Abubakar Audi led a group of senior officers to meet with Chief Kestin Pondi, Managing Director of TSSL, and High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, commonly referred to as Tompolo, in Warri and Oporoza, Delta State.

Audi and his team also toured the operational facilities of NSCDC operatives working with Tantita in far-flung creeks of the Niger Delta and other formations to assess their activities and encourage the frontline security agents.

The Commandant-General while paying a courtesy visit to Pondi said his operational tour of the Niger Delta was to enable him get first hand information of his men on ground and strengthen the relationship between the corps and Tantita.

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Audi said the NSCDC would celebrate the gallantry of his men on March 1st adding that the occasion would recognise fallen heroes of the corps and empower the families of deceased officers.

He said: “We place high premium on the welfare of our staff that is why every March 1st we recognise our personnel who died on active duty by assisting their families through payment of life insurance benefits and other empowerment schemes.”

In his remarks, the Managing Director, Tantita Security Services Ltd, Mr Kestin Pondi, heaped praises on President Ahmed Tinubu for providing the enabling environment to fight oil theft in the Niger Delta region.

He assured of closer collaboration with security forces including the NSCDC in the ongoing efforts to tackle pipeline vandalism and oil theft.

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Pondi said without the collaborative efforts of the NSCDC and other security agencies, the success record would have been impossible.

He said prior to Tantita’s involvement in combating oil theft, production levels hovered around 800,000 barrels per day, adding that the increased production was because of the collaboration with NSCDC.

He said:  “The success recorded in the recent past is not without the collaborative efforts of NSCDC. At the moment we have over 450 personnel in our organisation who have been providing collaborative services to our personnel.

“It is worthy of note that as at the time we came on board, the nation was producing between 600000 – 800000 barrels per day in 2022, but as at today we have gone over 2 million barrels per day and this is largely due to our collaboration with you.

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A former President, Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Engr. Udengs Eradiri, hailed NSCDC and Tantita for their mutual relationship saying their operational style was in line with President Tinubu’s leadership approach of community and stakeholders’ engagements.

Describing President Tinubu as a community man, Eradiri said Tinubu’s approach was centered around the people adding that in similar way Tantita and NSCDC approach instilled confidence in people to protect oil facilities within their domain.

“This is in line with President Tinubu’s leadership style. President Tinubu is a community man. His approach has always been about the people. For some of us who have known him for years ago, we are not surprised that he is doing things differently.

“Recall that when he was campaigning he came to the Gbaramatu Kingdom. President Tinubu expanded the relationship with Tantita and consolidated on what he met and that is why the trajectory has been smooth. President Tinubu is the reason Tantita is succeeding and we want to commend him for believing in Tompolo and the people,” he said.

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Imo govt warns nightclub, lounge proprietors against selling hard drugs to customers

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The Imo Government has issued a stern warning to hotel owners and nightclub operators, urging them to refrain from permitting the use of hard drugs within their establishments.

This announcement was made in a statement signed by Chief Ezechukwu Obonna, the Special Adviser to Governor Hope Uzodinma on Narcotics and Illicit Drugs Monitoring, and was shared with journalists in Owerri on Saturday.

According to Obonna, the state government has observed that hard drugs, especially cannabis, popularly called ‘loud’, are now being freely sold and consumed in public places, especially in lounges and nightclubs in the state, as if the drug is no longer prohibited by law.

He warned operators of nightclubs and lounges to immediately put an end to the consumption and sale of hard drugs, particularly in their business areas.

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He said that any establishment found to be enabling or permitting the use of hard drugs would face severe consequences.

“The government is issuing this stern warning to lounge and nightclub owners across the state to note that the government will no longer tolerate the use of private businesses as havens for illicit drug use.

“We urge all lounge and nightclub owners to take responsibility for ensuring their patrons are not engaging in illicit activities.

“The Imo State Government is committed to protecting the health and well-being of its citizens, and we will not hesitate to take action against those who compromise this effort,” he said.

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He added that the International Narcotics Control Board had expressed concerns about the growing trend of drug use and its impact on public health.

According to him, the Imo Government is taking proactive steps to address this issue and ensure a safer, healthier environment for all citizens.

“We appeal to all lounge and nightclub owners to cooperate with the government in this effort and to report any suspicious activities to the authorities immediately.  Together, we can create a safer, more responsible tourism and entertainment industry in Imo,” he said.

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Watch Saturday episode of Your Family Lawyer on ‘How can I get a divorce under Islamic marriage

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Seasoned lawyer and progenitor of Your Family Lawyer, Chuma Chinye tackled how you can get a divorce under Islamic marriage.

Using vivid examples and solutions on how you can maintain a cool head when faced on how to get your rights under Islamic marriage.

Watch podcast below:

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