The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday commenced the grilling the immediate past Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, David Parradang, over alleged fraud that trailed the controversial recruitment exercise into the service and the death of some applicants.
It is generally believed that Mr. Parradang was questioned over alleged fraud was in relation to the failed recruitment bid at stadia across Nigeria when no fewer than 15 job seekers lost their lives or the subsequent one, in which 1600 were enlisted.
Paradang reportedly arrived the EFCC headquarters in the Wuse 2 District of Abuja at 10am and was immediately taken into the interrogation room by EFCC’s operatives. Vanguard learnt that the agents questioned Mr. Paradang on the ownership of the company that was used to extort N1000 from each of the NIS applicants, which reportedly fetched them over a N1 billion in the process but under Parradang’s leadership, only declared N45 million.
The agents, it was learnt, suspect that the money must have been stolen or diverted and should be accounted for in the light of the anti-corruption disposition of the Buhari administration.
Wilson Uwujaren, the spokesman for the EFCC, confirmed the invitation but declined to give details.
The invitation followed claims and counter claims by the immediate past Interior Minister, Abba Moro and Paradang over the failed recruitment bids of the agency and the amount said to have been realised from the applicants.
It will be recalled that the CG, who was first suspended before being fired by President Muhammadu Buhari last month, had a face-off with the former Interior minister, Abba Moro, over the two sets of recruitments into the NIS.
While Paradang said his hands were tied, Moro accused him of being economical with the truth but the ousted CG has not opened up on what really transpired when he held sway under Moro.
Mr. Uwujaren, who did not disclose the actual reason for the interrogation, said Mr. Parradang was still being quizzed at the time of filing the report.
Mr. Parradang was in August suspended from office by President Muhammadu Buhari. He has since been replaced by his deputy, Martin Abeshi.
