The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has reopened investigations into the Nigerian Immigration Service recruitment tragedy in 2014, which led to the death of 19 young job seekers and also the subsequent failed recruitment bid in which 1600 were enlisted.

The commission on Monday grilled the immediate past Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, David Parradang, for over seven hours.

Paradang, who arrived the EFCC headquarters in the Wuse 2 District of Abuja at 10am and was immediately taken into the interrogation room by EFCC’s operatives, was reportedly asked questions about the N555m said to have been collected from applicants who participated in the 2014 exercise.

It was learnt that the agents also questioned Mr. Paradang on the ownership of the company that was used to extort N1000 from each of the NIS applicants and what the money was used for.

The agents, it was learnt, suspect that the money must have been stolen or diverted and should be accounted for in the light of the anti-corruption disposition of the Buhari administration.

Wilson Uwujaren, the spokesman for the EFCC, confirmed the invitation but declined to give details.

The invitation followed claims and counter claims by the immediate past Interior Minister, Abba Moro and Paradang over the failed recruitment bids of the agency and the amount said to have been realised from the applicants.

It will be recalled that the CG, who was first suspended before being fired by President Muhammadu Buhari last month, had a face-off with the former Interior minister, Abba Moro, over the two sets of recruitments into the NIS.

While Paradang said his hands were tied, Moro accused him of being economical with the truth but the ousted CG has not opened up on what really transpired when he held sway under Moro.

Mr. Uwujaren, who did not disclose the actual reason for the interrogation, confirmed that Mr. Parradang was quizzed by the EFCC.

Mr. Parradang was in August suspended from office by President Muhammadu Buhari. He has since been replaced by his deputy, Martin Abeshi