Comptroller General of Immigrations, Mrs. Rose Uzoma, who was yesterday directed to proceed on pre-retirement accumulated leaves effective today may have been a victim of power play.

Mrs. Uzoma, who became the Comptroller General of the Service on December 30, 2010, has lately been locked in a power play with her supervising minister, Abba Moro, the Minister of Interior, who convinced President Goodluck Jonathan to approve her sack.

Mr. Moro had recently scandalised Mrs. Uzoma publicly by accusing her of favouring people from her Igbo ethnic stock in a recent recruitment exercise, an allegation which the woman vehemently denied, saying no such exercise had taken place. It is not clear if the Presidency bothered to investigate the allegations before approving Mrs. Uzoma’s hasty dismissal.

A letter signed by Director/Secretary of the Interior Ministry, Dr. R. K Attahiru, on behalf of Mr. Moro dismissing Mrs. Uzoma from her job said:

“I am directed to convey approval of His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele, GCFR President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for you (Mrs. Rose Chinyere Uzoma) to proceed on your pre retirement accumulated leaves.

“I am to further convey that you are to hand over the duties and responsibilities of your office on or Wednesday, 16th January, 2013 to the most senior Deputy Comptroller General of Immigration in the person of Rilwan Bala Musa MNI, who will act as Comptroller General of Immigration pending the appointment of a substantive CG of Immigration.”