Presidency has described as outright falsehood media reports that the new Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Abubakar, failed promotion examinations twice, and holds dual nationality.

According to Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Abubakar has never been a Chadian as being speculated in the media, saying a lot of half-truths, misinformation, and outright falsehood had greeted the announcement of Abubakar as the new director-general.

Adesina maintained that Abubakar retired from Foreign Service as Deputy Director, not Assistant Director, and had thrice during his career, won Merit Award for competence and meritorious service.

According to him, failing promotion examination can only exist in the fecund minds of fiction writers.

The presidential spokesman said it was necessary to set the record straight because the claims had been been spread on social and mainstream media. He said President Muhammadu Buhari appointed the new DG because he had worked closely with him in the past two years, and sincerely believes that he would add value to the NIA.

He explained, “The new NIA DG retired from Foreign Service as Deputy Director (not Assistant Director) and three times during his career, had won Merit Award for competence and meritorious service. Failing promotion examination can only exist in the fecund minds of fiction writers. ”

His last position before the new appointment was as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs/International Affairs where again he quietly proved himself. “Abubakar’s parents hailed from Katsina State, and had settled in Chad at a point in their lifetime.

“The new DG did his primary school in Ndjamena (then Fort-Lamy), but returned to Nigeria for his secondary and University education. He never at any time held Chadian nationality.

“Mr. Abubakar’s only wife hails from Katsina State, indeed, from the same community as the husband. The story of being married to a Moroccan can only be tale by moonlight..”