In a formal petition dated Wednesday and made available to journalists in the Delta State capital, Ojei, representing the Young Nigerian Rights Organisation, meticulously detailed the alleged corrupt practices. The petition, titled “Petition against corruption practices at the Delta State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Asaba, Delta State,” has also been addressed to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the Federal Ministry of Interior, with copies sent to key anti-corruption bodies including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The petition paints a disturbing picture of systemic extortion, asserting that officers within the Delta State Command are allegedly fleecing passport seekers by demanding unauthorized fees that far exceed the officially stipulated charges set by the Ministry of Interior. Ojei's investigation reportedly reveals a pattern of coercion, where applicants, having already paid the official processing fees, are allegedly forced to cough up additional sums under various guises.
A particularly contentious charge highlighted in the petition is a mandatory "commitment fee" of N12,000. This fee, applicants are allegedly told, is to cover nebulous "operational costs," often attributed to issues like inadequate power supply. Furthermore, the petition details a steep and escalating charge for expedited service. Applicants seeking faster processing are reportedly compelled to pay a staggering N40,000 for "express service," a fee that has allegedly ballooned from N15,000 to N20,000 and then doubled during the peak demand for 10-year passports in December 2024.
The petition further alleges a manipulative tactic involving the 66-page, 10-year validity passport booklet. According to Ojei's findings, officers at the Delta Command purportedly create an artificial scarcity of these booklets, misleading applicants into believing they are unavailable. This alleged deception is then used as leverage to extract even higher payments from desperate individuals, despite assurances that the NIS Headquarters in Abuja has supplied an adequate number of booklets.
Adding another layer to the alleged illicit activities, the investigation reportedly uncovered the involvement of unauthorized "Super Agents." These individuals allegedly act as intermediaries, demanding a hefty N50,000 per applicant, further commercializing and complicating the already bureaucratic passport issuance process. The petition chillingly claims that applicants who dare to refuse these exorbitant demands face deliberate delays in the processing of their applications, with their files either being stalled indefinitely or relegated to the lowest priority.
Ojei vehemently condemned these alleged corrupt practices, emphasizing that they directly contravene the Minister of Interior's explicit directive prohibiting the imposition of any additional fees beyond the official payments. He argued that these actions not only erode public trust in the Nigeria Immigration Service but also disproportionately burden law-abiding citizens while enriching corrupt officers who continue to exploit Nigerians for personal gain.
In light of these grave allegations, Ojei, speaking on behalf of the Young Nigerian Rights Organisation, passionately demanded immediate and decisive action. He called for a thorough and impartial investigation into the alleged corrupt activities, specifically urging scrutiny of the role of the Passport Controlling Officer in Delta State. He further insisted on the implementation of appropriate disciplinary measures against any officer found culpable in these alleged acts of extortion.
Furthermore, Ojei demanded the immediate abolition of the alleged illegal "commitment fee" of N12,000 and the exorbitant N40,000 express processing fee. He stressed the urgent need for clear public communication to educate applicants about their rights and the legitimate costs associated with passport processing.
When contacted for a response to these serious allegations, the Public Relations Officer of the NIS, Delta State Command, Akpom-Nwanolue Ekwutos, offered a terse statement: "I don’t have any comment on this, the authority is already handling the matter." This response, while acknowledging the issue, provides little reassurance to concerned residents and underscores the urgency of a transparent and decisive intervention from the higher authorities within the Nigeria Immigration Service. The ball is now in the court of the Comptroller General and the Minister of Interior to address these serious allegations and restore public confidence in the integrity of the passport issuance process in Delta State.