Indications emerged on Thursday suggesting that the Director General, State Security Service (SSS) and his entire family have been denied visas to the United States of America (USA).
Though information regarding the rationale behind the move is still sketchy as at the time of filing this report but those in the know told THE NEW DIPLOMAT that the move might not be unconnected to the role played by the department in the last round of elections held across the country.
The SSS have come under severe criticism owing to the role played in the elections, which prompted the opposition and soon to be ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) to accuse it of being overtly biased in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
One very prominent official of the agency, Ms Merilyn Ogar had been accused severally by the APC of working for the PDP, rather than being neutral.
“The Director-General of the SSS was here (US embassy) alongside his family to apply for visas to visit the United States of America but I can tell you that their applications were not favourably considered.” A source within the US Embassy told our correspondent.
Recently, the government of the United States of America had promised to wield sanction against any official of state whose conduct or utterances promote violence in the build up to the poll.
Sources close to the US mission in Nigeria stated that some officials of the outgoing government such as the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, former Minister for Niger Delta Development, Godswill Orubebe, Katsina State governor, Ibrahim Shema might be axed.
