At least, 12 ministerial nominees have been screened by the police and the Department of State Service in a fresh exercise, Saturday PUNCH has learnt.
It was learnt on Friday that the exercise, which began late on Thursday, involved the scrutinising of the credentials of the nominees.
It was also learnt that the security agencies conducted biometric capturing of the nominees.
The PUNCH had exclusively reported on September 10 that the DSS had discreetly screened 36 ministerial nominees, whose names were sent to it by President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to the report, the DSS conducted a background check on their career histories, in search of any criminal record.
One of the nominees, who spoke with Saturday PUNCH on Friday, said, “Some of the 21 nominees (whose names were recently sent to the Senate by President Buhari) are now being screened by the police and the DSS. The screening includes documentation and biometrics capturing. I am just leaving the police headquarters and I’m on my way to the DSS headquarters.”
As of 4pm on Friday, it was learnt that no fewer than 12 nominees had been screened during the exercise which started at the Nigeria Police Force National Crime Data Centre, Force headquarters, Abuja.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole, who confirmed the screening to one of our correspondents, explained that the data centre was recently inaugurated by the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase.
The Force Public Relations Officer explained that the screening involved profiling of the nominees.
According to her, the exercise entails the psychological and behavioural analyses of the nominees to ensure that they are fit and proper for political office.
Kolawole could however not provide the names of the nominees who had participated in the exercise, saying she did not have the list.
She said, “I can confirm that the profiling of ministerial nominees has commenced and about 12 persons have been screened so far as of Friday.
“The exercise started on Thursday at the NPF National Crime Data Centre at the Force headquarters and we are still expecting other ministerial nominees to come for the screening.”
The DSS, which had yet to replace its former spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, could not be reached for comments.
The Special Adviser (Media) to the President, Femi Adesina, had in response to a question on whether the President had sent the list to the DSS replied via a text message, “Security screening is naturally a behind-the-scenes matter, thanks.”
Spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who is also one of the nominees, could not be reached for comments.
Calls to his mobile telephone indicated that it was switched off. A response to a text message sent to him was still being awaited as of the time of sending this report.
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