Photo: Mrs Carol Adepoju, AgCGI.
Acting Immigration boss appointed 24hrs to her retirement from service
Mrs Carol Adepoju, the acting Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) was allegedly appointed to the position last week barely 24 hours to her retirement from service.
This is according to some board members of the Civil Defense, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) who faulted the appointment, stressing that at no point did the board meet to appoint the acting CGI of NIS, who until her appointment was a Deputy Comptroller of Immigration (DCGI).
Born in Ondo state on 13/07/1963, DCG Adepoju, with service number, 8384, is due to retire on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 having clocked 35 years in service which she joined on 31/05/1988.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the aggrieved board members accused the immediate past Minister of Interior Mr Rauf Aregbesola of unilaterally making the appointment.
They alleged that Aregbesola took advantage of his position as the statutory chairman of CDCFIB to appoint her as acting Comptroller General of NIS with effect from May 30, 2023 and appointment letter dated May 26, 2023.
The appointment letter signed by the secretary of the board, Ja’afaru Ahmed, reads: “I write to convey approval of the Chairman of the Board for you to cover duties of the Office of the Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) as the most senior Deputy Comptroller General (DCG).
“You are enjoined to bring to bear your wealth of experience on the job as well as Consolidate on the ongoing transformation of the Service.”
Aregbesola, NIS spokesman, Tony Akuneme, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior Mr Shuaibu Belgore and CDCFIB Secretary, Mr Ahmed, all could not be reached for comment on the issue prior to filing this report.
Periscope International reports that Adepoju took the reins of leadership from Isah Jere, the immediate past Comptroller General of the Service.
Until her recent appointment as the Acting Comptroller General of the Agency, Mrs Adepoju was a Deputy Comptroller General in charge of Finance and had served in other high flying positions at various locations during her successful career in the NIS.
Adepoju’s appointment is historic as she is the first Yoruba person or Southwestern Nigerian to become CGI since the establishment of NIS in 1963.
