FAAN Bans 2 Immigration Officers From Airports Over Extortion
For allegedly extorting N8000 from a passenger at Lagos airport, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has banned two officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) from operating in any of the nation’s airports
According to the Spokesperson of FAAN, Mrs Faithful Hope-Ivbaze, the two immigration officials were banned from the airports after confirming the extortion at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA).
In a statement released in Lagos on Friday, Hope–Ivbaze said a team of FAAN Aviation Security officers was commissioned to investigate the allegation, following a tweeted allegation on February 19, 2022, by the mother of a 14-year old girl travelling on Lufthansa Airline that the two immigration officials extorted N8000 from her daughter.
“Upon investigation, they found the allegation to be true, as the officers involved were identified with the help of footages on our CCTV facility, and the cooperation from the Nigerian Immigration Service.”
She said the officers were made to refund the exact amount collected from the passenger, adding that the officers’ On Duty Cards were also withdrawn permanently, and they have been banned from working in any Nigerian airport to serve as a deterrent to others.
The FAAN image-maker praised the child’s mother, who has confirmed receipt of the money and for deeming it fit to escalate the case, noting that her cooperation assisted FAAN tremendously in the course of the investigation.
Similarly, Hope-Ivbaze expressed appreciation to the Comptroller of Immigration at the MMIA and the team members for their cooperation and support in addressing this issue.
She assured that the Authority would continue to identify and sanction any airport official (including FAAN staff) found to be extorting passengers or perpetuating any act of illegality at our airports. – With NAN reports
