Nigeria Immigration Service prosecutes senior civil servant over his involvement in passport forgery

NIGERIA Immigration Service (NIS) has initiated prosecution proceedings against a senior civil servant over his involvement in the forgery of documents meant for the procurement of international passports.

According to the NIS, a senior protocol officer in the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing conspired with others to forge an official identity card and signature of the minister Babatunde Fashola, on a letter issued to procure a passport. He was said to have collected N250,000 for his role in the crime.

Already, the official has appeared before Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja where he was charged with conspiracy, making false statements for the purpose of procuring a Nigerian passport and engaging in forgery. According to the NIS spokesman, its comptroller-general, Muhammad Babandede, has vowed not to spare any individual or groups involved in passport-related offences.

Mr Babandede has told prospective applicants seeking Nigerian passports to avoid false declarations, forgeries and the use of fake documents but follow due process by applying and paying online. He also urged people to desist from patronising touts, noting that both the procurer and the applicant would be prosecuted in accordance with the provision of the law relating to passport offences.