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Failed immigration recruitment exercise had no budget, says Paradang

By Bridget Chiedu Onochie
11 June 2016   |   3:24 am
Paradang was speaking as a prosecution witness in the trial of former Minister of Interior, Mr Abba Moro.
Former minister of interior, Abba Moro, Anastasia Daniel-Nwobia, former permanent secretary of the ministry of interior and deputy director in the ministry, F. O Alayebami, at the Federal High Court, Abuja over 2014 Immigration recruitment scam in Abuja on 29/02/16. PHOTO: Ladidi Lucy Elukpo.

Former minister of interior, Abba Moro, Anastasia Daniel-Nwobia, former permanent secretary of the ministry of interior and deputy director in the ministry, F. O Alayebami, at the Federal High Court, Abuja over 2014 Immigration recruitment scam in Abuja on 29/02/16. PHOTO: Ladidi Lucy Elukpo.

Former Comptroller-General of Nigerian Immigration Service, Mr David Paradang, yesterday told the Federal High Court, Abuja, that there was no budget for the 2014 Immigration recruitment exercise that went tragic.

Paradang was speaking as a prosecution witness in the trial of former Minister of Interior, Mr Abba Moro.

Moro is standing trial alongside former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs Anastacia Nwobia and a Deputy Director, also in the Ministry of Interior, Mr F.O Alayabami over a N676 million recruitment scam.

Led in evidence by the Prosecution Counsel, Mr Aliyu Yusuf, the former Comptroller-General told the court that the Service was not financially prepared for the exercise.

He further told the court that it was a day to the recruitment exercise that he received a letter from the board of the Immigration Service informing him that the exercise would be carried out the next day.

He added that upon receiving the letter, he enquired from the board on the level of preparedness and was told that a paltry sum of N300,000 had been sent to the Zonal Commands for the exercise.

According to Paradang, the amount was not even enough to hire a venue for the exercise let alone getting ambulances and other logistics.

Paradang further told the court that he was away in Jos, Plateau State, with the Minister of Interior when he started receiving calls and SMS informing him of the stampede at the various venues of the exercise.

“On the day of the exercise, most states were calling me that they were overwhelmed with the number of persons that turned up for the exercise. I advised them to seek help from sister security agencies and keep me informed.

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