President Barack  Obama has authorized the State Department to revoke the visas of more former government officials and their close relatives over their role in the controversy that surrounded the  health of former President  Umaru Yar’Adua and the looting of the nation’s treasury. Washington had also beamed its searchlight on several top Nigerian officials who  were named in the Halliburton bribery scandal preparatory to bringing  charges. Already,

 the search had also been expanded to include some officials who served under former president Olusegun Obasanjo and those said to have benefited  from several deals within the past 20 years. 

White House sources said those affected include close security aides to the late Nigerian leader, some serving governors and assistants “who  failed to fully brief relevant  authorised government officials and institutions about the health of the late president.” 

Also affected by the ban are former  and serving government and political party officials who had been tried and convicted of corruption or abuse of office. The White House said some Nigerian officials benefited financially from the ordeal of  President Yar’Adua and should be made to account for their roles in the controversy.

“We know Mr. Yar’ Adua was not in a position to  discharge his duties while in hospital in Saudi Arabia, but certain  decisions and expenditures were made with his authority and  some officials should be held responsible,” a senior administration spokesman stated.  

Mr. Obama said the new directive was in “pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 770 which authorized all America institutions to deny entry into the  United States, persons and their relations with links to corruption.” Already, the administration last week revoked the visa of former Justice Minister, Michael Aondoakaa, over his role in the  power play during  Mr. Yar’Adua’s  medical trip to Saudi Arabia.