Immigration officer gets 7-year jail term for passport fraud

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it has secured a seven-year conviction for Quadri Adeyinka, a staff member of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for committing travelling passport fraud. 

In a statement on Monday, June 10, Demola Bakare, spokesperson for the ICPC, said the convict was arraigned before Jude Onwuegbuzie, a high court judge in Abuja, on a four-count charge bordering on gratification, conferment of corrupt advantage, and cheating. 

Bakare said the offence contravened the provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act of 2000 and the Penal Code Act.

The spokesperson said Osuobeni Akponimisingha, counsel to the ICPC, led evidence before the court on how Adeyinka defrauded Ovie Ojeffia under the pretence of regularising his international passport. 

He said that the convict received the sum of ₦100,000 from Ojeffia to regularise her passport but reneged. Bakare added that the victim later petitioned the ICPC, which led to the investigation and arraignment of the convict before the court.

Onwuegbuzie, who found Adeyinka guilty on all four counts, sentenced him to seven years imprisonment each for counts 1 and 2, five years for count 4, and two years for count 3. 

The sentences are to run simultaneously.