The Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service Muhammad Babandede has vowed not to spare individual or groups involved in passport racketeering.
The CGI said he wont let anyone get away with the crimes anymore.
The warning came according to the Public Relations Officer of the NIS, Deputy Controller Sunday James, on the heels of prosecution of a senior protocol officer in the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Maikudi Haruna.
He was said to have forged documents meant for the procurement of Nigerian Passport.
Haruna was accused of conspiring to forge official Identity Card and signature of the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola on a letter issued to one Abubakar Mustapha Bida to procure “Official Passport”.
Not only that he allegedly collected N250,000:00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) as proceed knowing fully well that the subject was not a government official.
Following the development, Haruna was brought before Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja where he was charged with ‘Conspiracy’ making false statement for the purpose of procuring Nigerian passport and engaging in forgery.
The Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service has therefore advised prospective applicants seeking Nigerian passport to avoid false declarations, forgery and use of fake breeder documents.
He urged everyone to follow due process by applying and make payment online to avoid patronising touts.
According to the CGI, if caught both the procurer and the applicant would be prosecuted in accordance with the provision of the law related to ‘ Passport Offences’.
