Passport

By Uzair Adam

Four Nigerians have been sentenced to a combined total of 13 years in prison in the UK for their involvement in forging over 2,000 marriage certificates, which allowed people to live in the UK illegally.

Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, and Adekunle Kabir were found guilty after a hearing at Woolwich Crown Court in London on Tuesday.

The individuals were accused of making fraudulent EU Settlement Scheme applications between March 2019 and May 2023.

They provided false Nigerian Customary Marriage Certificates and other fraudulent documents to help Nigerian nationals remain in the UK.

An investigation by Home Office Criminal and Financial Investigators, in collaboration with Home Office International Operations based in Lagos, uncovered over 2,000 forged marriage documents.

Paul Moran, Chief Immigration Officer at the Home Office, emphasized the group’s significant abuse of UK immigration laws, noting their sole motive was financial gain.

Onifade and Shodipo were both convicted of conspiracy to facilitate illegal immigration and conspiracy to provide articles used in fraud.

Kabir was found guilty of possessing an identity document with improper intention but acquitted of obtaining leave to remain by deception.

Gbadamosi was convicted of obtaining leave to remain by deception and fraud by false representation.

Moran stated that the convictions serve as a warning to other gangs exploiting vulnerable individuals for financial gain and reiterated the UK’s commitment to securing its borders and stopping such illegal activities.

By Sabiu Abdullahi  

The Federal Government has announced a hike in the cost of obtaining Nigeria’s international passport, effective September 1, 2024. 

According to a statement by DCI Kenneth Udo, spokesman for the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the move aims to “maintain the quality and integrity of the Nigerian Standard Passport.” 

The 32-page passport booklet with a 5-year validity will now cost N50,000, up from the previous N35,000.

The 64-page passport booklet with a 10-year validity will now cost N100,000, up from the previous N70,000. 

However, the fees remain unchanged for applicants in the diaspora. 

The NIS spokesman apologised for any inconvenience the increase may cause, assuring Nigerians of the agency’s commitment to “transparency and quality service delivery at all times.”

By Uzair Adam 

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has initiated an investigation into a viral video showing a woman tearing up a Nigerian Standard Passport at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos. 

According to NIS spokesperson Kenneth Udo, the individual involved has been identified and called in for further investigation. 

The video, widely shared on social media, shows a woman, identified as Mrs Igiebor, ripping her husband’s Nigerian passport shortly after their arrival at the Lagos Airport on Saturday, August 10, 2024. When confronted about her actions, Mrs. Igiebor responded, “Is it your passport?”

The NIS noted that the incident could be a violation of Section 10(b) of the Immigration Act 2015 (as amended), which prohibits the willful destruction of Nigerian travel documents. 

The act specifies penalties for such offences, and if the allegations are proven, the individual’s actions will breach these provisions. 

The corresponding penalties are detailed under Section 10(h) of the same Act, which includes a maximum of 10 years imprisonment and/or a fine.

Kenneth Udo emphasised the Service’s dedication to enforcing the Immigration Act to protect national security and uphold the dignity and integrity of the nation’s legal instruments.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has issued a warning to the general public, particularly those looking to apply for passports, to be aware of the actions of touts posing as immigration officers.

This was stated at the Command’s End-of-Year celebration and award ceremony on Saturday in Owerri by Mr. Cyril Alaje, the Deputy Comptroller of Immigration and Passport Control Officer for the command.

He gave the people of Imo his words that the Command will keep up its commitment to provide top-notch customer service while meeting all of its primary objectives.

Also, NIS Comptroller in Imo, Mrs. Nkechi Ezugwu, said that the recognition was a call to better service while recognizing outstanding officers in the state. She added that they were deemed deserving of the awards after a “rigorous selection process.”

She conveyed her sincere gratitude to the state’s governor, Sen. Hope Uzodimma, for approving the Command’s Headquarters’ move to a new location and her certainty that the required legal paperwork to support the move will be processed quickly.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the return of Nigerians into the country with their expired Nigerian passports.

FG requested that all the airlines allow holders of expired Nigerian passports to board without delay.

The approval was in a letter from the Comptroller-General of Immigration Service (CGIS) Isah Jere Idris, addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama and dated December 9th 2022.

The reason for the permission is believed to be connected with the forthcoming Yuletide period on December 25th.

The letter said, “Consequently, all Airlines are requested to allow holders of expired Nigerian passports to board without let or hindrance.

“In addition, all Nigerian Diplomatic Missions abroad are kindly requested to circulate this information to airlines operators and border authorities of host countries for their necessary action,” the letter said in part.