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By Amos Odhe
There is rising tension among officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) following the alleged plot by the outgoing Comptroller General Caroline Wuraola Adepoju to install her alleged preferred successor, an officer promoted to comptroller in 2022 and to ACG in 2023 “without interview,” while retiring seniors officers at the expiration of her tenure on February 28, 2024.
Adepoju who allegedly was to have retired on the 31st May 2023, allegedly got two extensions and will be retiring on the 28th February 2024.
The succession plot, according to sources at the NIS headquarters, is allegedly backed by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji Ojo and without due regard to procedure at the Nigerian Immigration Service.
Investigations revealed that the outgoing Comptroller General, Caroline Wuraola Adepoju, is allegedly plotting to install one Adeola Adesokan who was recently promoted to the rank of comptroller in 2022, with a quick promotion to the rank of Assistant Comptroller General in 2023 by the minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji Ojo in an alleged questionable manner.
Consequently, if the alleged plot scales through, eight Assistant Controller Generals serving at the eight zonal offices across Nigeria, and twelve at the service headquarters, with seven Deputy Comptroller Generals, making a total of twenty-seven senior and experienced officers not due for retirement will be prematurely retired.
Sources told newsmen that the top echelon of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) are sitting on a keg of gun powder due to the continuous disregard for rules and constitution of the country.
It was pointed out that the purported successor being allegedly sponsored by the outgoing Comptroller General Caroline Wuraola Adepoju and the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, is considered not qualified for the post and would further put a wedge in the service.
They also pointed out that the outgoing Comptroller General Caroline Wuraola Adepoju, whose service extension ends on the 28th February 2024, after the actual retirement date of 31st of May, 2023, having served 35 years, had gotten two extensions before her confirmed appointment as Comptroller General of the Immigration Service.
“Since she got confirmed, she stopped doing her executive assignment, rather travels all round lobbying for extension. On discovering she has exhausted her tenure she is trying to impose an incompetent junior officer on her seniors,” the source alleged.
“A total of twenty-seven senior, experienced officers not due for retirement will be prematurely retired for an incompetent junior comptroller promoted to Assistant Comptroller General under one year. What a disaster waiting to happen.”
It was also gathered that top senators and members of the National Assembly have been notified of the development and are keenly watching. “Mr President should also intervene to remove the minister and not extend the present Comptroller General’s tenure ending on the 28th February 2024. Nigerians are watching.”
Our correspondent could not get official response to these and other allegations as of going to press.
