The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dismissed reports linking the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nandap, to its ongoing investigation into an alleged visa overstay extortion racket involving some immigration officers.
In a statement issued on Monday by its head of media and publicity, Dele Oyewale, the anti-graft agency said Nandap is “not remotely connected” to the investigation, stressing that media reports suggesting otherwise were misleading.
Part of the statement read that
“The commission wishes to state unequivocally that it has no case with the Immigration CG.”
The agency, however, confirmed that investigations into alleged visa fraud involving some immigration officers are ongoing, noting that there are already pending cases before the Federal High Court and that more suspects could soon be arraigned.
The clarification followed reports that the EFCC is investigating a long-running scheme in which some immigration officers allegedly extorted foreigners who overstayed their visas instead of enforcing the penalties prescribed under the Nigeria Visa Policy 2025.
According to findings, foreigners who overstay their visas are expected to pay a fine of 15 US dollars for each day they remain in Nigeria after their visas expire, however, investigators suspect that some officers exploited the system by collecting unauthorized payments from affected foreigners.
Sources familiar with the investigation said the alleged racket has operated for years and spans the administrations of several Comptrollers-General of Immigration.
The probe reportedly involves officers serving at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos; the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja; and the NIS headquarters in Abuja.
The investigation was said to have been triggered by a whistleblower, a female immigration officer, who reported the alleged scheme to the EFCC.
Sources further alleged that one deputy superintendent of immigration had remained posted to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport for more than a decade, where investigators reportedly recovered multiple immigration stamps during a search of his residence.
While reaffirming that the investigation is strictly focused on officers suspected of fraudulent practices, the EFCC urged journalists to seek clarification from the Commission before publishing reports that could misrepresent its activities.
LEADERSHIP had reported over the weekend that the EFCC was probing visa overstay extortion https://leadership.ng/efcc-probes-alleged-visa-overstay-extortion-at-immigration/
The agency maintained that the current Comptroller-General, Kemi Nandap, is not under investigation and has no connection with the ongoing probe.
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