A petition has been filed with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) alleging organized extortion by officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) in Delta State.
A civil society organization, the Young Nigerian Rights Organisation, which filed the petition with the commission, claims that NIS officials are demanding excessive fees for passport services, far exceeding official rates.
According to the petition, signed by Lead Activist Comrade Victor Ojei, individuals seeking passports are being asked to pay between ₦100,000 for a 5-year passport and ₦150,000-₦160,000 for a 10-year passport, despite official fees being ₦50,000 and ₦100,000 respectively.
Additional unauthorized charges include “Commitment fees” of ₦12,200 and “Fast Track fees” of ₦20,500.
The petition alleges that the Passport Control Officer (PCO) is the ringleader of this extortion racket and that an Assistant Comptroller of Immigration attempted to cover up the allegations during a recent investigation.
“We write to formally petition your esteemed Commission over the continued, well-coordinated, and brazen extortion being carried out within the Delta State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) under the leadership and alleged influence of the Passport Control Officer (PCO) and her selected team.”
“We previously raised alarm on this issue through formal and public engagements, citing illegal fees ranging from ₦100,000 for a 5-year passport (officially ₦50,000) to ₦150,000–₦160,000 for a 10-year passport (officially ₦100,000). In addition, “Commitment fees” of ₦12,200 and “Fast Track fees” of ₦20,500 are being demanded by the officers without any official receipt or federal backing,” dated April 13, partly read.
The group pleaded with the ICPC to take over the case and conduct an immediate, independent investigation.
The petitioners claim to possess evidence, including bank account details and names of those involved.
The group added, “Following our complaints, we received a call from an Assistant Comptroller of Immigration who claimed to have been mandated to investigate these allegations.
“However, during our phone conversation, he refused to follow an objective and transparent approach to uncover the truth. Rather than use the NIS internal database to randomly call applicants between September 2024 and April 2025, which would have provided verifiable and unbiased data, he insisted we provide individual “evidence,” potentially exposing our sources and violating journalistic ethics.
“Even more disturbing is that he dismissed our reasonable suggestion that the NIS should recuse itself from investigating its own command and allow the ICPC, EFCC, or the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to take up the probe. Instead, he went ahead with what appeared to be a window-dressing exercise, visiting the command and allegedly doing no real interrogation or interviews.
“We have credible intelligence that those involved in this organized crime, particularly the PCO and her inner circle, were neither questioned nor scrutinized.
“This action undermines the essence of the investigation and seeks to protect an internal cartel that is enriching itself at the expense of Deltans and others. We are confident that if the ICPC steps in and investigates dispassionately, many victims will come forward, and justice will be served.”
Meanwhile, the Governor of Delta State has also been urged to intervene and protect the rights of citizens.
