Oluwatosin Adelaja, a software developer, has recounted how Muyideen Akande, an immigration officer at the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) headquarters in Abuja, defrauded him of N40,000.

Adelaja told FIJ that he visited the Abuja passport office in July 2021 to renew his passport, but fell prey to Akande’s fraudulent scheme.

“I did not know anyone when I went to the office. So, Officer Akande asked me what I came to do. As soon as I told him I came for passport renewal, he said he could help me out,” Adelaja told FIJ.

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The software developer said Akande told him to pay N40,000 as fee for the renewal. He was also told that the amount he was told to pay was the legal amount each applicant is expected to pay when applying.

“I paid Akande in cash. Next, he requested my old passport and then took me to a room where I did my capturing,” Adelaja said.

“I was assured by the NIS official that a new passport would be ready three days after I did the capturing. But till we speak, I am yet to receive it.”

“Since that day I paid him, he has not given me my passport. He used to say it was not ready, but he no longer says anything.

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“In December, I stormed their office to demand my passport, but he said there was an issue with my National Identification Number (NIN).

“He also said the name on my passport did not match the one on my passport, so I gave him my NIN and he said he would work on it.”

Adelaja said Akande has remained mute over the issue since the last encounter. He also said he visited the office again three weeks ago, but Akande was not around.

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“He sent someone else’s number to me, saying he was not around. He ran from the office. When I met the man whose number he gave me, the man said he knew nothing about my issue,” he stated.

“In fear, the officer sent someone to give me my old passport that was with him. He also requested my account number and promised to refund the money but he is yet to send it to me.”

When FIJ contacted Amos Okpu, the NIS Public Relations Officer (PRO), he requested that a text be sent to him because he was in a meeting. He has, however, not responded to the text sent to him at press time.