The Nigerian Immigration Service has dragged Ministry of Interior officials and Messers Continental Transfect Technique Limited to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over N3.9 billion deducted from Combined Residence Permit Alien Card.
Combined Residence Permit Alien Card is a permit for a foreigner to live and work legally in Nigeria and subject to renewal, the Nigeria Immigration Service in conjunction with Ministry of Interior is the agency responsible for the issuance of CERPAC.
Appearing before the Senate Committee on Public Account to respond to the query issued by the Auditor General of Federation, Anthony Anyine, the comptroller General of the NIS, Muhammad Babandede, said the NIS has already dragged the contractor and government officials involved in the contract to the EFCC over the matter.
Anyine explained that the contract in question was between the Ministry of Interior and Messes Continental, adding that the Immigration was included in the deal as a mere enforcing agency on behalf of the Ministry of Interior.
He added that the money those involved collected should be retrieved from them.
According to him: “We have written to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on the matter.
“The money they collected for those centers should be collected back.
“The Immigration was included in the deal as a mere enforcing agency on behalf of the Ministry of Interior.
“Therefore, the Nigeria Immigration Service may not the satisfactory answer any query from this contract.”
The Auditor General in his query had said: “An agreement for combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card was entered into between the Federal Ministry of Interior at Area 1, Garki, Abuja and the company on 25th May, 1999.
“The purpose of this contract was to replace the paper Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens card in use with combined special purpose card that would ensure computer legibility and 21st century computer compatibility.
“Applicants would pay $350 which formed the basis for sharing ratio as follows: Federal Government – 50 per cent, contractor – 40 per cent, designated account of the Ministry as operation cost – 10 per cent.
“The following irregularities were observed: FGN – 20 per cent, contractor – 40 per cent, contractor – 25 per cent, contractor – 7 per cent, NIS – 7 per cent and Ministry of Interior – 1 per cent.
“As at December 2015 physical audit inspection revealed that nothing had been done at new issuing centers in 28 states command, even after N3.9 billion had been deducted or set aside from sharing ratio purpose between 2014 and 2015.
“The actual cost for the establishment of the 28 new issuing centers was not stated in contract agreement.
“The duration of the contract of the project, the eventual cost implication and the date prior to 45 per cent of the ratio will revert back to the Federal Government is not known and was not stated.
“CG has been requested to address irregularities mentioned as well as account for N3.9 billion already deducted, forwarding evidence of action taken for audit verification.”
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