The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has commenced the prosecution of a senior protocol officer in the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Ministry, Maikudi Haruna, for passport fraud.
A statement by the NIS’s spokesman, Sunday James, said that Haruna forged the signature of the ministry’s immediate-past Minister, Babatunde Fashola to help a client, Abubakar Mustapha, get an “official passport”.
According to the statement, Haruna collected N250,000 from Mustapha and created the ministry’s staff identity card for him in order to process the passport with the NIS.
He said Haruna forged the minister’s signature on Mustapha’s identity card, knowing fully well that he was not an official of the ministry.
James said the officials had appeared 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 NIS, Muhammad Babandede was quoted to have vowed not to spare individual or groups involved in passport-related offences.
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“The warning came at the wake of the prosecution of a senior protocol officer in the Ministry of Power, Works,and Housing Maikudi Haruna involved in the Forgery of documents meant for the procurement of Nigerian Passport.
“He conspired by forging official Identity Card and signature of the Minister of the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing on a letter issued to one Abubakar Mustapha Bida to procure “Official Passport” thereby collecting #250,000:00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) as proceed knowing fully well that the subject is not a government official.
“The Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service advise prospective applicants seeking Nigerian passport to avoid false declarations, forgery and use of fake breeder documents, but follow due process by paying online, applying online and desist from patronising touts, noting that both the procurer and the applicant will be prosecuted in accordance with the provision of the law related to Passport Offences,” the statement read.
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