The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has dismissed reports linking the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap, to an ongoing investigation into alleged visa racketeering.
The anti-graft agency insisted that she is not under investigation.
The commission, in a statement on Monday by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, said although it was investigating alleged visa fraud involving some immigration officers, the NIS boss has no connection whatsoever with the cases.
The clarification comes amid media reports and online insinuations suggesting that the EFCC was probing Nandap over the alleged visa racketeering.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is aware of reports in the media about alleged visa racketeering involving some officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service, especially subtle insinuations about the assumed investigation of the Comptroller-General of the Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap.
“The commission wishes to state unequivocally that it has no case with the Immigration CG,” the statement read.
The EFCC, however, confirmed that criminal proceedings were already before the Federal High Court against some immigration officers over alleged visa fraud.
According to the commission, investigations continued and could result in the prosecution of additional officers.
There are subsisting cases of alleged visa fraud against some immigration officers at the Federal High Court.
“Further investigations are ongoing, with the possibility that more NIS officers could be arraigned for alleged fraudulent practices in the near future.
“However, the Immigration CG is not remotely connected to these investigations,” the statement added.
The commission urged journalists and media organisations to verify information with the agency before publication to avoid misrepresenting its activities.
The clarification follows allegations linking senior officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service to an ongoing EFCC investigation into an alleged visa overstay racketeering scheme.
It was alleged that some immigration officers unlawfully collected money from visa overstayers instead of enforcing the penalties prescribed under the Nigeria Visa Policy 2025, which imposes a fine of $15 per day for each day a foreign national remains in the country after the expiration of a visa.
It was further alleged that investigators were examining about N700m reportedly traced to the account of one officer under investigation, while another suspect was being investigated over properties allegedly acquired through third parties.
Punch Ng