Dokpesi was quizzed because he left Nigeria without a stamped passport- Immigration Boss

The Nigeria Immigration Service on Thursday explained why it quizzed Raymond Dokpesi, the founder of AIT and a senior member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

The Comptroller-General of NIS, Mohammed Babanded, said, Dokpesi was quizzed by immigration officials for two fundamental reasons bordering on alleged violation of the Nigerian immigration laws.

The NIS boss made the disclosure in an interview with an online publication, PT.

According to him, Dokpesi was invited for questioning shortly after officials learnt he travelled and returned to the country in manners that are unclear.

Dokpesi had on Wednesday while confirming to journalists he was grilled by the NIS, describe his ordeal as an attempt by the Buhari government to silence opposition.

But Babandede’s explanation of what transpired contradicted what Mr Dokpesi told reporters as he did not disclose he was asked about how he left the country without his passport being stamped.

According to NIS boss, extant Nigerian immigration regulations require that a person going out or coming into the country must be cleared to do so by authorities.

But Dokpesi’s passport was not signed by immigration officials before he left the country, according to the publication.

“We do not know how he left the country — whether through the land, air or sea,” Mr Babandede said.

Mr Dokpesi said he received clearance from the court to allow him travel out, but Mr Babandede said Immigration does not have any information from the court in that respect.

“Usually, court officials would notify us whenever someone’s passport is released to travel after a previous confiscation by the court, but we have no records showing that Mr Dokpesi was cleared to travel by the court,” the Immigration chief added.

“Nigerians will know more of what happened when we conclude our investigation,” the immigration chief said.

Mr Babandede also added, “He (Mr Dokpesi) was only invited for questioning in respect of crossing borders based on the powers given to us by the Immigration Act 2015. He was never detained.

Also, this has nothing to do with the federal government of Nigeria. It has to do with the Nigerian Immigration Service under my leadership,” he added.

Dokpesi was arraigned in late 2015 for alleged violation of procurement law and benefitting up to N2.1 billion in shady media contracts for his associated outlets.

He has since strongly denied the allegations.