By Chinedu Offor
Correspondent
Washington D.C.

Their visa have been revoked.

The number could rise to an additional 50 officials whose cases are under investigation, according to sources.

Also affected are private citizens seen to be supporting ethnic militias and Islamic fundamentalists.

All may lose their investments in the U.S if they are unable to justify how they made their money.

A U.S. official said the ban is a "practical demonstration of the administration’s resolve to assist Nigeria in its war on corruption".

Sources in the administration and the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (INS) confirmed that those affected include seven serving governors, two former Heads of State, lawmakers, former ministers (especially in the Shehu Shagari administration), top officials of government agencies and businessmen.

The agencies include former National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), former Nigeria Airways Limited (NAL) and maritime establishments.

Two of the governors are from the North, two (South South), two (South East) and one (South West).

One of them allegedly bought a custom made jet, purporting it to be for a proposed airline to be operated by the state.

Another was barred because he allegedly owns a million dollar real estate firm, registered under the name of a lady said to be his mistress.

The administration relied on internal investigation, records from banks, Transparency International (TI) and information from European Union (EU) countries to make the decision.

It was learnt the list will be handed over to the Nigerian authorities.