The Presidency has rubbished the lists making the rounds purportedly containing the names of high-profile Nigerians affected by the travel ban the Federal Government announced on Saturday.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, MrGarba Shehu, while speaking during a television program yesterday said the federal government has not released any list. He added that the government has no plans to release the names of those on the list as it wants to avert the criticism and media trials that usually follow such release.
Although the Presidential aide declined to mention the names any of the people affected by the travel ban, he suggested that they were no surprises to the list.
Mr Shehu had announced the decision of the Federal Government in a statement on Saturday, after a Federal High Court in Abuja upheld President Muhammadu Buhari’s Executive Order 6.The order, among other things, allows for the interim seizure of assets linked to investigation, ongoing criminal trials, and other related offences.
The move has attracted criticism and praise. Among the critics are the Peoples Democratic Party, and human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and the Social-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
Mr Shehu, however, insists that the move is in the interest of concluding cases that have dragged on for too long and held the nation’s judiciary captive.Asked if the persons affected by the ban are aware of the development in the absence of a public list, Mr Shehu said they know themselves and if in doubt, they can check with the immigration service.
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