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Nigerian
Passport Image credit: Naij.com
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The Police Special Fraud
Unit (PSFU) says it has arrested over 20 suspects who specialized in
counterfeiting entry visas of some foreign countries.
Media
report continues:
Spokesman
for the PSFU, Audi Lawal, said in a statement on Saturday in Lagos that the
visa racketeers were arrested at several embassies of the foreign countries in
Lagos.
He
said the suspects specialized in forgery of visa processing documents such as
passports, bank statements, company letterheads and immigration stamps of
several overseas countries.
Mr.
Lawal said that all the suspects confessed to have committed the crimes and
were charged to court for prosecution to serve as deterrent to others involved
in such illegal activities.
“The
Polıce Special Fraud Unit in its effort to discourage members of the public
from patronizing racketeers and false document makers, recently busted a cartel
which specializes in counterfeiting.
“This
cartel specialized in UK, Canada and Schengen visas, Nigerian passports, bank
statements, various countries’ immigration stamps and letter of introduction
from corporate organizations,” Mr. Lawal said.
The
PSFU spokesman advised visa applicants against patronizing agents using fake
travel documents for processing visa at embassies in Nigeria.
He
urged visa applicants to always access embassies and high commissions
information through their official websites on visa application procedures.
50 Nigerians Use
Fake Documents To Secure Italian Visa Monthly – Police
Media reports that the
Police Special Fraud Unit, SFU, Lagos, in June 2017 expressed concern over
increasing number of Nigerians allegedly involved in using fake documents to
seek Italian visa.
The
spokesperson of the unit, Lawal Audu, disclosed this in Lagos on Sunday in an
interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.
He
said the Italian Embassy sends an average of 50 Nigerian Passports with fake
document to SFU monthly.
Mr.
Audu noted that before now, Canada used to complain of such high numbers of
fake documents, adding that attention had shifted to Italy now.
“The
Italian Embassy sent to SFU about 50 Nigerian Passports monthly with complaints
of forged documents.
“We
have charged more than 15 persons to court for presenting fake document between
January and May, 2017.
“Documents
the applicants always forged include bank statements, health insurance
certificates, invitation letters from Italy, letters of introduction and letter
of employment from multinational companies.
“Italian
Consulate normally checks all supporting document for any applicant. They are
very meticulous in checking.
“We
have many passports with such complaints in large numbers.
“Once
any embassy or high commission discovers irregularities in any application,
they request the applicant to come to SFU for clearance; many never came to us.
“After
waiting for some time, we go out to look for such applicants.
“Many
of the applicants used fake names and addresses. Even their mobile phone
numbers are with fake names and addresses. Some phone numbers have babies’
names for registration,” Mr. Audu noted.
The
image maker said that a major challenge faced by the unit was difficulty in
tracking applicants due to lack of national data for identity.
Mr.
Audu said that two men, who allegedly specialized in forging visa payment slips
and fake visa procurement, were arrested on Tuesday and Wednesday in Lagos
Island.
He
said that the suspects, aged 28 and 31 respectively, were arrested after a
complaint by the American Embassy on the use of fake receipt to seek for their
visa.
“The
suspects, who claimed to be working as online appointment agents to the
American Embassy, are both single.
“They
allegedly specialize in manipulating visa payment receipts by using Corel Draw
application in Microsoft Word to edit payment slip in order to use same for
more than one applicant.
“Trouble
started for them when one applicant (name withheld) paid the sum of ₦60,000
into one of the suspects’ Account with GT Bank for appointment/visa fee for his
son.
“The
suspect, instead of making payment upon receipt of the money, opted to buy already
used payment receipt belonging to another applicant from the second suspect.
“The
first suspect paid ₦30,000 to the second suspect who used Corel draw
application to manipulate and made booking for their client.
‘‘The
American Embassy noticed the irregularities and decided to invite the
applicant, who then revealed the suspects,’’ Mr. Audu said.
Similarly,
a 34-year old single mother, was also arrested for allegedly using forged
document to seek for visas to the UK, US and China.
Mr.
Audu said that the woman, who had been refused visa to UK twice, allegedly
procured fake document to appear before the American Consulate with Passport
No. A0055907 containing fake UK visa and Heathrow’s Immigration stamp.
“The
suspect confessed that she employed the service of one Olawale, a document
vendor in Ibadan, to procure fake UK, Chinese visas and departure/arrival
stamps, including various African countries on her passport in order to give
her previous travel history.
“Members
of the public should desist from patronizing visa vendors as it can have
adverse effect on their identities, which may affect them in future.
“All cases are under
investigation, suspects will be charged to court soon,” Mr. Audu said.
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