Title: Nigerian Immigration Service Arrests Three Suspects for Passport Racketeering in Ondo
Operatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in Ondo State have apprehended three suspects involved in passport racketeering. The suspects, identified as Etaoghere Cyril, Okunika Joy, and Adehaka Blessing, were paraded at the NIS passport office in the state’s capital, Akure.
The NIS’s Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent Oladapo Bayode, revealed that these suspects were charging exorbitant fees for passports, which were significantly higher than the official rates published on the NIS website. They demanded N80,500 for a 32-page, five-year validity passport, N100,500 for a 64-page, five-year validity passport, and N165,000 for a 64-page, 10-year validity passport.
The arrest of these racketeers came as a response to complaints from the public about fraudulent activities within the passport administration process. To address this issue, the command initiated an undercover operation where an officer disguised himself as a civilian seeking to obtain a passport.
Deputy Superintendent Bayode emphasized that the Nigerian passport issuance process is not a commodity open to negotiation, and the NIS does not employ agents to handle passport applications on its behalf. Furthermore, he stated that the days of waiting for months to obtain a passport are over, thanks to streamlined processes implemented by the NIS.
Bayode encouraged citizens in the state and its environs to visit the Nigeria Immigration Service, Akure Passport Office to apply for passports. The NIS now ensures that passport applications are processed within two weeks, in line with the directives from the Minister of Interior.
One of the arrested suspects confessed that he had defrauded a victim who was deceived through a Facebook scam. The NIS continues to take measures to eradicate passport racketeering and fraudulent activities, promoting a transparent and efficient application process for Nigerian passports.
