A step taken by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) includes the creation of an Immigration Fraud Section within various commands nationwide.
During a meeting with a delegation from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede announced this development, as stated by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale in a release on Wednesday in Abuja.
The visit by the RCMP delegation, headed by Director General Superintendent Rabhi Abdallah, took place at the EFCC corporate headquarters in Abuja.
To address the issue of immigration fraud and the negative impact it has had on the country’s reputation, Olukoyede explained that the new section had been set up approximately two weeks ago.
Olukoyede highlighted the specific locations where the new section had been established, including Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, and other zonal commands with embassies. This strategic move aims to combat the prevalent fraud schemes related to immigration.
He stated, “In addition to our recent interventions in the foreign exchange market, we took the initiative two weeks ago to establish an Immigration Fraud Section. This decision was prompted by the significant fraudulent activities witnessed in this domain.”
“There have been numerous cases of exploitation, and we are committed to redirecting our efforts and resources towards preventing Nigerians and foreign diplomatic missions in Nigeria from falling prey to visa and immigration-related scams,” Olukoyede added.
Expressing EFCC’s willingness to collaborate with the RCMP in the anti-corruption crusade, Olukoyede emphasized the importance of joint efforts in combating corrupt practices.