The Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, has initiated an investigation into an incident involving a female traveler, Mrs. Favour Igiebor, who destroyed a Nigerian Standard Passport at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos.
The Spokesperson to the Service Headquarters in Abuja, DCI Kenneth Udo, disclosed this information in a statement yesterday.
This decision came after a video circulated on social media, showing a woman destroying a Nigerian Standard Passport at the airport.
The Service identified the individual involved as Mrs. Favour Igiebor, holding passport number A11990869.
In response to this incident, the Comptroller General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, has directed that Mrs. Favour Igiebor be invited for further investigation.
The NIS stated that if the allegations are substantiated, Mrs. Favour Igiebor’s actions would breach Section 10(b) of the Immigration Act 2015, with corresponding penalties outlined under Section 10(h) of the same Act.
The Nigeria Immigration Service affirmed its commitment to upholding the provisions of the Immigration Act in the interest of national security and preserving the dignity and integrity of the nation’s legal instruments.
According to information obtained by CASEFILE from various sources including Podus AI, the Nigerian International Passport is an official government document, and any act of destruction or defacement can be viewed as an act against the state.
The Immigration Act 2015: Passport
The Immigration Act 2015 outlines the conditions under which a residence permit may be granted to foreign nationals wishing to reside in Nigeria. It states that a residence permit may be issued to a foreign national who satisfies the immigration officer with a valid reason for residing in Nigeria, such as employment, business, or family ties.
Penalties
Failure to comply with the requirements set forth in Section 10(b) can result in significant penalties, including fines and imprisonment.
According to Section 10(h), any person who contravenes the provisions of this section shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding N100,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or both.
