PRESS RELEASE
NIS STRICTLY ADHERED TO DUE PROCESS IN THE ISSUANCE OF NIGERIAN PASSPORT TO MR DAVID UKPO NWAMINA
The attention of the Service has been drawn to the trending issue in connection with an alleged case of age falsification on a Nigerian Standard Passport issued by Nigeria Immigration Service to a Nigerian who is alleged to be at the centre of an investigation of the case of “organ harvesting”.
- The Service wishes to set the record straight by informing the general public that the views being expressed that the service did not properly vet the breeder documents issued by the applicant during his passport application process are not correct, but mere fabrications aimed at tarnishing the image of the Service.
- The facts of the matter concerning the case above, therefore, are that the said Mr. David Ukpo Nwamina applied and paid for the Enhanced e passport using the NIS portal after which he approached the Gwagwalada Passport Office, FCT Abuja, on the 2nd November, 2021 for his interview. To support his application, Mr. Nwamina presented all the necessary documents required, including his birth certificate issued by National Population Commission (NPC), showing 12 October, 2000, as his date of birth; his National Identity Number (NIN),issued by NIMC corroborating the date of birth; a certificate of origin issued by Ebonyi State Government Liaison Office Abuja, and a Guarantor’s form duly signed.
- In view of the above, the general public may wish to be informed that the date of birth, or any other information, on any Nigerian passport is printed on the document only after a thorough vetting process that involves both the applicant’s breeder documents and the person. Mr. Nwamina’s case, therefore, was not an exception.
- While assuring of the Service’s commitment towards protecting the integrity of the passport, the Service wishes to seize this opportunity to appeal to the general public to desist from making such unfounded utterances as they are capable of denting the image of the Service.
Signed
ISAH JERE IDRIS
COMPTROLLER GENERAL NIGERIA IMMIGRATION SERVICE 25TH JUNE, 2022
