Delta man tackles NIS over alleged passport racketeering

An inspector of the Nigeria Immigration Service (name withheld), has allegedly defrauded Delta State-based man, Mr Samuel Akpoku, while renewing his passport.

Speaking to South-South PUNCH on Monday in Asaba, the Delta State capital, the victim, Akpoku, called on the Federal Government to look into the issue of passport racketeering in Nigeria.

He said, “I want to renew my passport and correct my date of birth, so a colleague of mine, Mr. Gideon Tobechukwu introduced him to me for assistance.

“I contacted him to renew my old passport and correct my date of birth. He quoted a total fee of N180,000, broken down as follows:  N110,000 for a 64-page 10-year booklet, N30,000 for the date of birth correction, and N40,000 for personnel processing fees.

“I transferred the amount to his Polaris Bank account, and he confirmed receipt and assured me that the process had begun.

“Surprisingly, when I received an appointment slip for biometric capturing, he assured me that he would provide the payment slip upon my arrival at NIS Abuja headquarters.

“Upon my arrival, he claimed to have forgotten the slip at home and assured me that his wife will bring it, but this turned out to be a lie as the time for my appointment approached.

“He told me to print the payment slip at a business centre within the office complex. It was a shock when the payment slip indicated payment for a 32-page five-year booklet, contrary to our initial agreement.

“He claimed it was a mistake and that it would be corrected at the printing stage even when I doubted it, but proceeded with the enrollment process”

Akpokun said that upon checking in, he was informed that his payment was incomplete, but he had instructed him to falsely claim it was a new passport to avoid issues.

“After the enrollment, he demanded an additional N40,000 for express processing, which I transferred to his Polaris Bank account.

“When I returned to Asaba, I contacted him for an update, only to be told that the error could not be corrected, and he refused to send my passport until I paid an additional N5,000 for courier services.”

Meanwhile, a Lead Activist for Young Nigerian Rights Organization, Mr Victor Ojei, has petitioned the Minister of Interior over alleged passport racketeering.

Ojei, in the petition titled ‘Petition Against Fraudulent Activities by an Officer with the Nigeria Immigration Service, Abuja HQ’ and addressed to the Minister, Federal Ministry of Interior, Old Federal Secretariat Area 1, Garki, FCT, Abuja, stated, “We are writing to bring to your attention a serious case of fraudulent activities and misconduct by an officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service.

“The actions of the officer are not only fraudulent but also a severe breach of trust and professional ethics. I respectfully request the following actions be taken:

“A thorough investigation into the conduct of the inspector, disciplinary measures against him to serve as a deterrent to others, full reimbursement of the N225,000 paid to the inspector and issuance of the correct 64-page 10-year passport with the date of birth corrected, if it can be possible for amendment of which our complainant will take care of the cost upon refund of his balance difference.”

He called on the interior minister to treat this matter with the urgency and the seriousness it deserves.

When contacted for his reaction, the officer said, “I’m listening to you, is that why you are calling me?” and hung up the call, while the message sent to him was not responded to as of the time of filling this report.

Efforts made to reach the NIS spokesperson Mr Kenneth Udo, failed as calls and messages sent across to him were not responded to.