Investigation launched by immigration chief into passport fraud

Mrs Caroline Adepoju, Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), has ordered an investigation into allegations of passport racketeering against NIS officers in the South East.

Adedotun Aridegbe, the Service Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller of Immigration, stated this in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja.

Passport Control Officers in the region have been accused of demanding additional fees for international passports in addition to the official fees.

Aridegbe stated that any officer found to be responsible would face disciplinary action since the service would not accept any sort of misconduct or improper behaviour.

“The attention of the NIS has been drawn to a report of allegations of misconduct against the personnel of the service over passport racketeering.

“As part of efforts to rid the agency of these bad eggs, an order for immediate probe into the allegations has commenced and anyone found guilty will be sanctioned.

“The CG and the Minister of Interior have given a directive for the investigation of the allegations and that is what we are doing,” he said.