The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Wednesday said it had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the Ministry of Interior officials and a private firm, Messrs Continental Transfect Technique Limited on their involvement in the N3.9billion contract for the production of Combined Residence Permit Alien Card(CERPAC).
The Comptroller General of NIS, Muhammad Babandede, made the declaration before the Senate Committee on Public Account ( SPAC).
His appearance was sequel to the query issued against the agency by the Auditor General of the Federation, Anthony Ayine.
Ayine in the query has expressed concern that his 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 for the project.
But addressing the Senate Committee on Public Accounts led by Mathew Uroghide ( PDP Edo South), the Immigration boss absolved his agency of involvement in the alleged contract scam.
He declared that the contract in question was between the Ministry of Interior and Messrs Continental and maintained that the Immigration was included in the deal as a mere enforcing agency on behalf of the Ministry of Interior.
He expressed the hope that the EFCC would recover the fund from the contractor and the Ministry of Interior officials after its investigation as he maintained that the project was poorly executed.
He said: “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 have the satisfactory answer to the query from this contract. “
