IMMIGRATION BOSS NOT UNDER PROBE OVER VISA FRAUD — EFCC
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By ‘Sefiu Ajape
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has dismissed reports linking the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap, to an ongoing investigation into alleged visa racketeering, insisting that she is not under investigation.
The anti-graft agency made the clarification in a statement on Monday by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, following media reports and online insinuations suggesting that the EFCC was probing the NIS boss over the alleged visa fraud.
According to the commission, while it is investigating alleged visa racketeering involving some officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nandap has no connection whatsoever with the cases.
“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is aware of reports in the media about alleged visa racketeering involving some officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service, especially subtle insinuations about the assumed investigation of the Comptroller-General of the Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap.
“The commission wishes to state unequivocally that it has no case with the Immigration CG,” the statement partly read.
The EFCC, however, confirmed that criminal proceedings are already before the Federal High Court against some immigration officers over alleged visa fraud.
According to the commission, investigations are ongoing and could lead to the prosecution of additional officers.
“There are subsisting cases of alleged visa fraud against some immigration officers at the Federal High Court. Further investigations are ongoing, with the possibility that more NIS officers could be arraigned for alleged fraudulent practices in the near future.
“However, the Immigration CG is not remotely connected to these investigations,” the statement added.
The commission urged journalists and media organisations to verify information with the agency before publication to avoid misrepresenting its activities.
The clarification follows allegations linking senior officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service to an ongoing EFCC investigation into an alleged visa overstay racketeering scheme.
The allegations claimed that some immigration officers unlawfully collected money from visa overstayers instead of enforcing the penalties prescribed under the Nigeria Visa Policy 2025, which imposes a fine of $15 per day for each day a foreign national remains in Nigeria after the expiration of a visa.
Investigators were also said to be examining about ₦700 million allegedly traced to the account of one officer under investigation, while another suspect is being investigated over properties allegedly acquired through third parties.
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