Ex-govs, ministers refuse to surrender diplomatic passports – TheNigerialawyer

About three weeks after leaving office, former governors,
ministers and lawmakers have yet to return their diplomatic
passports.

According to the law, holders of such passports are required to
return them to the Nigeria Immigration Service at the expiration of
their tenure.

But findings by Saturday PUNCH on Friday indicated that most of
the holders of the diplomatic passports were illegally holding on
to them.

A diplomatic passport holder has free access to diplomatic
lounges and consul licence number plate, among other
privileges.

Our correspondent also learnt that ex-commissioners, top Federal
Civil Service officials and council bosses were among those yet to
surrender their diplomatic passports.

It was learnt that only former presidents, vice-presidents and
heads of states are qualified to hold on to their diplomatic
passports for life.

Other political appointees or officials of government cease to
hold the document as soon as they are out of office.

The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede, had
earlier told our correspondent in an interview that former
lawmakers who did not return their diplomatic passports would not
receive their severance packages.

He said he had written to the National Assembly to tie payment
of such ex-lawmakers’ terminal benefits to the return of the
diplomatic passports issued to them.

Babandede added that the passports would be seized at the
airport from all ineligible persons.

He said, “For the incoming National Assembly members, we have
written to the Clerk (of the National Assembly) that they should
tie their benefits to the return of their diplomatic passports.

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“Any member of the Senate or House of Representatives leaving
office must return their diplomatic passport before getting their
severance benefits. The clerk has accepted the condition.”

When asked about the level of compliance to the directive by
ineligible holders of the diplomatic and official passports,
spokesman for the NIS, Sunday James, said, “Our lawmakers and
officials are responsible Nigerians and we believe that they will
return the travel documents as soon as possible.”

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