Metro

INTL PASSPORT: Govt official arrested for forging signature of former minister

Published

5 years ago

July 7, 2019

A senior official of the ministry of power, works and housing, Maikudi Haruna, has been arrested for allegedly forging the signature of a former minister.

This was disclosed in a statement by Sunday James, spokesperson of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

According to the statement, Haruna collected the sum of N250,000 from one Abubakar Mustapha whom he falsely processed the ministry’s staff identity card for, in order to process an official passport with the NIS.

It read: “The Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service Muhammad Babandede MFR has vowed not to spare individual or groups involved in passport related offences from getting away with it.

“The warning came at the wake of the prosecution of a senior protocol officer in the Ministry of Power, Works, and Housing Maikudi Haruna involved in the Forgery of documents meant for the procurement of Nigerian Passport.

“He conspired by forging official Identity Card and signature of the Minister of the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing on a letter issued to one Abubakar Mustapha Bida to procure “Official Passport” thereby collecting #250,000:00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) as proceed knowing fully well that the subject is not a government official.

“The Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service advise prospective applicants seeking Nigerian passport to avoid false declarations, forgery and use of fake breeder documents, but follow due process by paying online, applying online and desist from patronising touts, noting that both the procurer and the applicant will be prosecuted in accordance with the provision of the law related to Passport Offences.”

The NIS spokesperson stated that the suspects have been charged before Taiwo Taiwo, judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to serve as a deterrent to others.

He was charged with conspiracy and making false statement for the purpose of procuring Nigerian passport and engaging in forgery.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now