By Samuel Malik

The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, David Parradang, was on Friday suspended by President Muhammadu Bujari, with deputy comptroller general Martin Abeshi asked to take charge.

No reason was given for the suspension.

Although some aides of the President have denied it, many believe that Parradang’s suspension may be connected to the embarrassment caused the country when Ahmad al-Assir, the wanted Palestinian terrorist, was arrested in Lebanon with a fake Palestinian passport and a genuine Nigerian visa, as he tried to board a plane to Nigeria through Egypt.

It is not clear how he was able to get the country’s document but the embarrassment has led to the federal government launching an investigation.

This is not the first time the Nigeria Immigration Service is courting controversy. In 2014, about 20 applicants in the botched Immigration recruitment died while trying to gain entrance to venues of the test. This was despite the NIS dubiously making about N1 billion from the sale of forms to the 700, 000 applicants.

Following the tragedy, which led to government cancelling the exercise, Parradang alleged the recruitment was done without his input while Nigerians called for his and then Interior Minister, Abba Moro’s sack.