Nigerian Concord Newspaper
The US Department of States has faulted media reports that the Barrack Obama-led administration imposed a Visa ban on a former Minister for Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN and some members of his immediate family in 2010.
The US government was reacting to an email which this newspaper and its media partners sent to the official email address of the Department of States NPIC@state.gov where an inquiry was made on the alleged travel ban on the Benue State People’s Democratic Party Governorship candidate.
Recall that yesterday, there were Social Media posts by social media handlers of the Benue State government where it was reported that a US travel ban still exists against Chief Aondoakaa.
Responding to our email inquiry over the report, an official of the US Department of the, Ms Grace Smith stated that there was no record of a Visa ban on Chief Aondoakaa and any member of his immediate family.
The official pressed further that after running a check on Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, she was unable to locate a record that the Obama-led administration imposed such visa ban on him and his family members in 2010.
She stated further that her checks also didn’t reveal that the PDP candidate and members of his family are under any US visa ban presently.
Meanwhile, further check by this newspaper and its media partners showed that a former United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle with his wife and other dignitaries visited Mikap Nigeria Limited factory in April 2014.
The trip by the former US envoy, his wife and members of his entourage was made by road as there was no flight from Abuja to .akurdi at that period.
According to findings, the purpose of the visit was to inspect the company’s agricultural processing of polished parboiled rice, and strengthening the US business relationship and support/partnership through USAID’s MARKETS II.
Findings also showed that a Director General of the United States Agency for International Development led his team all the way from Washington DC on a familiarization visit to Miva Rice factory in June 2014.
Diplomatic sources said that there was no way the US government would enter a business partnership with Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa’s company in 2014 if there has been a travel ban on him since 2010.
Meanwhile, an advocacy group, Benue For Good Governance has challenged social media handlers of the Benu State Government to bring a proof that Chief Aondoakaa is under a US visa ban.
Speaking on the negative media report through a press statement by its Secretary, Dr. Joy Mamwoo, the pressure group noted that the PDP candidate operates the biggest Rice firm in Nigeria , noting that this attracted the attention of the US government in 2014.
According to her, Miva Rice Mill which was founded in 2011 by the former Minister for Justice has promoted commercial agriculture, agro-processing and marketing. Since 2011, Mikap has invested in polished parboiled paddy rice processing, with a capacity of 8.5 metric tons per hour under the brand name ‘Miva Rice’.
The group however called on Governor Hyacinth Alia to attend a live debate with Chief Aondoakaa instead of sponsoring his media handlers to be propagating lies against the former Justice Minister.