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Nigerian Officials, Companies Summoned to Discuss Immigration Revenues

by Reuters

   ABUJA, NIGERIA --

   Nigerian lawmakers on Saturday summoned the attorney general,
   accountant general, minister of interior and representatives of four
   companies to appear next month before a committee of parliamentarians
   over allegations that revenues were withheld from the immigration
   service.

   The head of the Nigeria Immigration Service told a committee led by
   Senator Solomon Adeola that the companies performed services for the
   NIS in public-private partnerships. The services, provided between 2012
   and 2016, included the production of e-passports and expatriate
   residence permits.

   The companies had "contractual agreements to perform some
   revenue-generating service on behalf of the NIS, with the company
   withholding a hefty percentage of revenue that would have accrued to
   the federal government," a spokesman for Adeola said.

   A statement issued by the committee, which met Saturday, said there was
   a "need to get clarification on this issue from all the parties
   involved."

   The government and company officials are to appear before the committee
   of senators April 6.