Albert Akpor
7 March 2008
Lagos — THE Olayinka Balogun-led Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigeria Police is currently beaming its searchlight on the American Embassy following reports of mass invasion by visa racketeers. Already, a man and his wife and eight others are presently cooling their heels in the Unit's custody and may be prosecuted if a prima facie case is established against them.
Speaking with Crime Guard at the Milverton office of the unit, the Police Commissioner said that the SFU was poised to cleanse the entire country of corruption and fraudulent practices. According to him, "the onslaught against visa racketeers followed series of complaints from the American Embassy.
This is yet another opportunity to warn members of the public to be wary of dubious agents who claim to be able to procure visas especially, American visa, for unsuspecting or gullible members of the public. Potential applicants are also warned that they not only risk losing money in the process but may also face trial which may lead to imprisonment."
Giving a lowdown on the arrested suspects, the Police boss said: " On January 8, 2008, one Mrs. Islamiyat Olaronke Agoro, a female visa applicant went to American Embassy for a visa interview.When the embassy's record was reviewed, it was discovered that the suspect had previously travelled to the United States, using another identity. It was suspected that on July 30, 2007, the suspect entered the US with a UK passport No. 0944480424 bearing the name Salimot Agoro.
This was confirmed through fingerprints and physical recognition software. At the end of investigations, it was also discovered that the suspect actually travelled to the US using a UK visa bearing Salimot Agoro, belonging to her sister with whom she shares some physical resemblance. The said Salimot Agoro presently resides in the UK and efforts are on to reach her for questioning.
"Another suspect is Hadijat Olasunbo Balogun. The suspect also applied for a US visa and was invited for an interview. On close scrutiny, her documents were discovered to be forged. Further investigations by detectives at SFU showed that her husband, Kehinde Balogun, conspired with her to forge the documents.
We got him arrested equally and recovered a West African Senior School Certificate, Lagos State Certificate of Occupancy, a deed of agreement, a UBA and GTB statements of account, Corporate Affairs Commission certificate of Incorporation, Memorandum and Article of Association and Yaba College of Technology certificate from them. Kehinde Balogun made useful statements admitting that he paid one Ojolo Oluseyi the sum of N200,000 to procure the forged documents. We then went after the said Ojolo and got him arrested also. He admitted collecting the money, but claimed he in turn paid one Dide of Benin Republic the sum of N75,000 for the documents. We would arraign the suspects in court at the end of investigations."
"Similarly," continued the Police boss, "another suspect who identified herself as Adebisi Olusola Ogunpola was arrested following revelation that the visa found in her possession was forged. Like every other applicant, the suspect attended a visa interview at the American Embassy, but a close perusal of her Nigerian passport showed Chinese and Turkish visas which were unarguably fake. When interrogated, she confessed that she hired the services of one Musibau to forge the visa for her at the rate of N50,000. This was to enable the passport appear used instead of the fresh passport that it was.
"Another diehard suspect is one Babatunde Akindele. This suspect appeared at the American Embassy to review his visa. A scrutiny of the records revealed that the suspect had been using various names at the embassy and we were promptly alerted. Interrogation by my men led the suspect to admit to having perpetrated several scams in a bid to get an American visa.
He confessed that in 1999, he travelled to the US on a British passport No. 003306622 bearing the name, Dare Akinola, which was procured for him by one Adedeji Johnson. He used this passport to travel to the US but was deported at the point of entry. In 2001, he also applied for a US visa using a Nigerian passport No. A1080618 bearing the name, Babajide Johnson Adedeji. This was also detected and the application was refused. He re-applied in 2001 with his real name, and his application was successful until he was detected at point of renewal. He is one desperate and unrepentant racketeer and we are spreading our dragnet in other embassies for people like him."
Other racketeers with similar offence, the CP maintained, would be thoroughly investigated and would face the full wrath of the law.
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