Group raises alarm over appointment of new NIA DG, allege that Rufai Abubakar is a threat to the agency

macfranc007 January 31, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Kess Ewubare

- Some directors in the NIA allege that the newly appointed DG of the agency, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, is the first head of the agency to be appointed from a rank below that of a director

- The group warns that Abubakar’s appointment will set a dangerous precedence at the agency

- The presidency says lot of half-truths have trailed the appointment of the new director-general for the NIA

Some directors in the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) have demanded the removal of the newly appointed director-general of the agency, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, over what they called threats to the cohesion at the agency.

According to Sahara Reporters, the group named concerned directors of NIA, in a letter to the House of Representatives Committee on Security and National Intelligence, called for an urgent intervention to stop the change in the agency 's leadership from having severe consequences on the country's security apparatus.

They alleged that Abubakar is the first head of the agency to be appointed from a rank below that of a director.

The group warned that Abubakar’s appointment as DG NIA will set a dangerous precedence.

"While we are aware that part of the new DG’s agenda is to retire those of us who are his seniors, as it is more likely that he may not want to work with us, it is evident that he will pursue a vendetta mission, which he has already indicated in his very first address to us.

"He is at liberty to go ahead with what we know he intends to do, but we wish to point out the underlying dangers in a massive purge of senior officers of the agency, to the effect that, not only will the millions of dollars spent on training and retraining us be lost, we are also custodians of the country’s intelligence dossiers, and may decide to use same for mischief," said the disenchanted directors.

They also requested the House to investigate Abubakar's nationality.

"Since the government, itself admitted that Mr Abubakar was born and bred in Chad, while on the other hand, he claims to have been born in Nigeria; at least going by his the records and his CV, suffice it to point out that there is an obvious contradiction. We call upon this honorable body to thoroughly look into this seeming discrepancy," they said..

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Meanwhile, the presidency has dismissed reports that the new director-general for the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, had retired from the services of NIA as an assistant director, because he failed promotion examinations twice.

The special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, in a statement sent to NAIJ.com on Sunday, January 28, said lot of half-truths, misinformation, and outright falsehood have trailed the announcement of Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, as the new director-general for the NIA.

Adesina faulted reports that Abubakar was married to a Moroccan, and so cannot hold such sensitive security position.

He also dismissed rumours that the new NIA DG was born and bred in Chad, and he holds dual nationality.

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