The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has dismissed reports linking the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, 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 and described reports suggesting otherwise as misleading.
“The Commission wishes to state unequivocally that it has no case with the Immigration CG,” the statement said.
The EFCC, however, confirmed that investigations into alleged visa fraud involving some immigration officers are ongoing.
The Commission said there are already pending cases before the Federal High Court and that more suspects may be arraigned as investigations continue.
The clarification followed reports that the EFCC was investigating a long-running scheme in which some immigration officers allegedly extorted foreigners who overstayed their visas, rather than enforcing the official penalties prescribed under the Nigeria Visa Policy 2025.
Under the policy, foreigners who overstay their visas are expected to pay a fine of $15 for each day they remain in Nigeria after the expiration of their visas.
Investigators, however, suspect that some officers allegedly exploited the system by collecting unauthorised payments from affected foreigners.
Sources familiar with the investigation said the alleged racket had operated for years and cut across 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 Nigeria Immigration Service headquarters in Abuja.
The investigation was said to have been triggered by a whistleblower, identified as 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, and that investigators recovered multiple immigration stamps during a search of his residence.
The EFCC maintained that while the investigation into some immigration officers is ongoing, the current Comptroller-General, Kemi Nandap, is not under investigation and has no connection with the probe.
The post “EFCC Says Immigration CG Not Linked To Visa Overstay Extortion Probe” — Confirms Investigation Of Officers, Pending Cases In Court appeared first on TheNigeriaLawyer.
