Nigeria Suspends Immigration Head over Approval of al-Asir's Visa

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari suspended his head of immigration Friday, the government announced, with the department under investigation over the approval of a visa to Islamist Lebanese cleric Ahmed al-Asir.

Asir, wanted in Lebanon over deadly clashes with the army and other cases, was arrested on Saturday at Beirut's airport as he tried to board a plane to Nigeria using a fake Palestinian passport with a valid visa.

"The Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration service, Mr. David Shikfu Parradang, has been suspended from office with immediate effect," Nigeria's interior ministry said in a statement.

No reason was given for the move, but news that Asir had received the green light to travel to Nigeria caused outrage in the west African nation, and made front page headlines.

The Nigerian government launched an investigation into the affair earlier this week, although it was unclear if Parradang was being held personally accountable.

Asir had been on the run since June 2013, when he and some supporters fought a deadly battle with the army outside the southern Lebanese city of Sidon.

The army seized his headquarters after 48 hours of clashes that killed 18 soldiers, but Asir was able to escape with several of his followers.

He had continued to issue audio statements while on the run, and various rumors circulated as to where in Lebanon he was hiding.

In 2014, prosecutors sought the death sentences for Asir and 53 others, including singer-turned-fundamentalist Fadel Shaker.

They were accused of having formed armed groups that killed soldiers, and of having explosive materials, light and heavy weapons that they used against the army. 

Asir, a native of Sidon, was virtually unknown politically before the outbreak of Syria's civil war in 2011.

He began making headlines after the conflict erupted by criticizing Hizbullah and its ally, Syrian President Bashar Assad.