The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede, has revoked the residence permits of the expatriate workers in six companies, including Intels Nigeria Ltd., said to belong to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
The affected workers were also directed to leave the country before November 30,2017 failing which they may be deported.
The Immigration Service Public Relations Officer, Sunday James said in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, that the revocation was in the exercise of the powers vested on the CG in Section 39 subsection 1 of Immigration Act 2015 and Section5, subsection 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.
The FG had earlier terminated Intels contract with the Nigerian Port Authority over allegations that the firm did not comply with the government’s directive on the Treasury Single Account.
It was widely believed that the termination of the contract might not be unconnected to Atiku’s plans to contest in the presidential elections in 2019.
But James in the statement said the revocation of the expatriates’ residence permits followed the withdrawal the operational licenses of their employers by the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority.
It said, “The Comptroller/General of Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede, hereby revoke the residence permits of the expatriate staff of the underlisted companies.
“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.”
