Over 12 close aides of former President Goodluck Jonathan have been stripped of their official passports.

They include former Special Adviser to the President on Media Reuben Abati, former Chief Security Officer, Gordon Obua, and former Aide-de-Camp, Col. Ojogbane Adegbe.

The decision to withdraw the official passports of the former aides of Dr Jonathan was to prevent misuse and conflict with new aides and officials of President Muhammadu Buhari, who assumed duties on May 29, 2015, Saturday Vanguard reports.

The affected former aides, it was gathered, had returned the passports to the Presidential Villa preparatory to being handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS.

Nine other key officials of the Jonathan Presidency, who were also issued with official passports have also been stripped of the travel documents.

The development may also not be unconnected to ongoing probe of the Jonathan administration.

But the Nigerian Immigration Service has denied any hidden agenda, saying it was a normal routine.

NIS Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joachim Obua, said it was normal for officials of government to surrender their official passports at the end of their tenure.

“It is important for the position to be made clear that official passports are not the property of anyone holding it. Once you complete your assignment you have to return it to the NIS”, he said.