CrimeHighlight

FG lose billions as thieving officials help themselves with revenues

102

WHEN it comes to corruption, Nigeria has long languished near the bottom of the international league table.  A League Table ranks items – those at the the top of the table are best/good and those at the bottom the worst/bad. Hence, a League Table ranking Corruption means those at the top are more corrupt than those at the bottom. Nigeria is ranked 148 according to the latest corruption perception index (CPI) released by Transparency International (TI). In this report by Per Second News, Stella Igwe-Adesoga, shows vulnerabilities in the handling of incoming government funds by officials who allegedly divert millions for personal use.

Per Second News

In Washington, DC, investigations show that pilfering eats away between 20 and 30 per cent of the proceeds from the Embassy of Nigeria, with officials accused of using funds intended for the federal government to enrich themselves in a scheme that is expected to ensnare more diplomats across the nation’s overseas consulates in what investigators are calling the most serious corruption case involving the Nigerian embassy in decades.

Visa, passport processing and expedite fees are diverted by greed and desire to survive and get ahead in a broken system, according to findings and confessions by former workers.

Scathing documents obtained by this newspaper exposes a disturbing criminal collaboration that was ongoing for years between high-ranking officials of the embassy, consular officers and immigration personal at the embassy. The pilfered funds deprived staff  and hard working men and women of critical workforce and professional development opportunities and calls into question the integrity of officials from the ministry of foreign affairs during the course of this criminal conspiracy.

The Embassy processes passport applications, issues appropriate visas, and renders consular services daily to Nigerians and non-Nigerians in 50 states in the U.S.  The fees for processing passports, as stated on the Embassy’s website, are as follow:

 Ages 0 -17 yrs ($77) – N27,720

Ages 18Yrs-59Yrs ($106) – N38, 160

Ages 60Yrs and Above ($77) – N27,720

 

Instead of collecting only any of the above categorized payments, the Embassy charges additional $30 processing fee and $85 expedite fee per applicant. These fees (processing and expedite fees) are never documented nor remitted to the Federal Government, including those of the daily high revenues generated from consular services, according to findings.

These monies are collected and deposited into the bank but are soon withdrawn through issuing of checks to those intended senior officials, in particular, according to findings corroborated by former officials.

” To cover the trace, fictitiously written applications, claiming refunds, purchases, traveling allowances and estacodes, etc, which were never incurred nor embarked upon are submitted, said a source at the embassy.

” Payment vouchers are raised on the fictitious claims, thereby making it intricate for external auditors to detect.”

Further investigation shows that the Embassy of Nigeria charges $350 for each lost passport fee (in addition to collecting passport application fee in the amount listed above). Again, these fees are never documented nor remitted to the Federal Government.

These lost passport fees are fact, and can be verified from the Embassy’s website.

Unfortunately, the Federal Government isn’t aware of such fees or remittance, said an embassy Source.

Per Second News gathered that Embassy officials, particularly those in the Passport Office, periodically, visit other States in the U.S. with mobile machines to process passport applications for Nigerians. Aside from collecting the required amount to process passport for each age category, as listed above, the Embassy collects processing fee of $100 per applicant.

The mobile ‘Passport Intervention Exercise’ usually caters for an average of 700 applicants at each visit with $100 processing fee  allegedly going to the pockets of officials.

” These fees are never documented nor remitted to the Federal Government, an employee who have embarked on the exercise to Phoenix, Arizona,  said under the condition of anonymity. He alleged that the same practice exists in most Nigerian missions abroad.

Leave a comment

Related Articles

FAAN shuts down KFC outlet at Lagos Airport over discrimination against ex-Gov Daniel’s son

Barely 24 hours after Debola Daniel, son of former Ogun State Governor...

Atiku’s campaign DG switches loyalty, drums support for Tinubu, Fubara

A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, who...

Just in: FCT court discharges, acquits ex-AGF Adoke in OPL 245 fraud charge

The FCT High Court in Jabi, Abuja, on Thursday dismissed the charges...

63-year-old woman, teenage girl, two others killed in U.S. stabbing spree

A man armed with a knife went on a stabbing spree in...

FG to collect only nine types of taxes, says FIRS chairman

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) says in line with the presidential...

After 14 days in detention, First News editor, Segun Olatunji, breathes air of freedom

The Editor of FirstNews, a digital newspaper, Segun Olatunji, on Thursday regained...

N3trn budget padding: Sen. Ningi threatens legal action if suspension is not lifted in seven days

Abdul Ningi, the senator representing Bauchi Central, has given Senate President Godswill...

Eniola Ajao apologizes over “AJAKAJU” movie premiere controversy

Actress Eniola Ajao has issued an apology to the public in the...

Ex-Presidential media aide, Akande criticises LP’s leadership, urges party’s alignment with national interest

Mr. Laolu Akande, a former presidential assistant, has expressed dissatisfaction with the...

Economic hardship: Ogun Govt. begins sale of rice at 50 percent price reduction to workers, public

Ogun Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has announced that his administration will start selling...

FG committed to steel industry revitalization to drive infrastructural development, says Industry Minister, Dr Uzoka-Anite

The Federal Government is committed to industry rehabilitation, with a focus on...

Easter: FG declares Friday, March 29, Monday, April 1 public holidays

The Federal Government has declared Friday, March 29, and Monday, April 1,...

Fake, unwholesome products: NAFDAC seals 10 bakeries, 8 table water factories in Rivers

The National Agency for Food and Drug Control (NAFDAC) has shut down...

Climate change, food security: AfDB approves $50 million for Yobe State

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has granted a $50 million loan...

Ex Guinea-Bissau President’s Son Jailed in U.S. for Drug Trafficking

Malam Bacai Sanha Jr, the son of a former president of Guinea-Bissau,...

Few weeks to party primary, leading Ondo APC governorship aspirant, Dr. Paul Akintelure, passes away

Dr. Paul Akintelure, a prominent candidate for governorship in Ondo State who...

IPOB, bandits using betting sites, crowdsourcing to finance terrorism – NFIU

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), bandits, and other terror organizations are...

EU launches €9m energy projects in Nigeria

The European Union (EU) has unveiled two new initiatives worth €9 million...

Don’t sell dollar above N1,269, CBN orders Bureau de Change

As part of measures to strengthen the naira against the dollar, the...

Chinese man to die by hanging for stabbing his Nigerian girlfriend to death

A Chinese national, Frank Geng-Quangrong, who killed his Nigerian girlfriend, Ummukulsum Sani,...