Former Special Adviser to Goodluck Jonathan, Reuben Abati has been stripped of his official passports following the expiry of his official duty.
Former Special Adviser to Goodluck Jonathan on Media, Reuben Abati, has just been stripped of his official passports following the expiry of his official duty.
A report by Vanguard claimed that two months after leaving power, Abati alongside 11 close aides of Jonathan have been stripped of their official passports.
It was further reported that the withdrawal of the official passports from the former presidential aides was to prevent misuse and conflict with new aides and officials of President Buhari, who assumed duties on May 29, 2015.
While it could not be established if the withdrawals were orders by the Presidency a voluntary act by the affected former aides, the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, has insisted that there was no ill-motive behind the passports withdrawal.
The NIS Public Relations Officer, Joachim Obua, explained that it was normal for officials of government to surrender their official passports at the end of their tenure.
In his words, '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.'
Others affected alongside Abati are former Aide-de-Camp, Col. Ojogbane Adegbe and former Chief Security Officer, Gordon Obua; and nine other key officials of the Jonathan Presidency who were also issued with official passports have also been stripped of the travel documents.