BEVERLY HILLS, November 15, (THEWILL) –Â The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede, has revoked the residence permits of the expatriate workers in six companies, including Intels Nigeria Ltd., where former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has a stake.
The affected workers were also directed by Babandede to leave the country before November 30, 2017 failing which they may be deported.
This was contained in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja by the Immigration Service Public Relations Officer, Sunday James, stating that the revocation was in the exercise of the powers vested on the CG in Section 39 sub-section 1 of Immigration Act 2015 and Section 5, sub-section 5 of the Immigration Regulation, 2017.
Beside Intels, other firms affected by the directive included PRODECO International Ltd., West Africa Machinery Services Ltd., Net Global System International Ltd., MGM Logistics Solutions Ltd., and ORIEAN Investment Ltd.
James in the statement said the revocation of the expatriates’ residence permits followed the withdrawal of the operational licenses of their employers by the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority.
“The Comptroller/General of Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede, hereby revokes the residence permits of the expatriate staff of the underlisted companies,” the statement read.
“Consequently, the CGI has directed that the expatriate staff of the affected companies leave Nigeria not later than November 30, 2017, failure of which they might be recommended to the Minister of Interior for deportation.”
THEWILL recalls that the Federal Govery had earlier terminated Intels’ contract with the Nigerian Ports Authority over allegations that the firm did not comply with the government’s directive on the Treasury Single Account.
It is believed that the development is targeted at weakening Atiku who is rumored to be interested in running for the Presidency in 2019.
