Suspected fake passport agent arraigned in lagos

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Suspected Fake Passport Agent Arraigned in Lagos

A 35-year-old man, identified as Olamide Ogunleye, has been arraigned before a Lagos Magistrates' Court for allegedly issuing fake passports to unsuspecting Nigerians.

Ogunleye, who claimed to be a passport agent, was arrested by operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) at his office in the Ikeja area of Lagos.

The accused was arraigned on a two-count charge of forgery and uttering false documents, contrary to sections 364 and 467 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

According to the prosecutor, Inspector S. A. Ogunleye, the accused was arrested after a tip-off that he was issuing fake passports to individuals who wanted to travel abroad.

The prosecutor told the court that the accused had issued several fake passports to unsuspecting Nigerians, including a 25-year-old woman who was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while trying to travel to the United States with a fake passport.

The accused allegedly demanded N500,000 from the woman to issue her a fake passport, which she paid before collecting the document.

The prosecutor said that during investigation, it was discovered that the accused had issued over 20 fake passports to individuals who wanted to travel abroad.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The case was adjourned till March 15, 2023, for further hearing.

The NAPTIP and NIS have warned Nigerians to be cautious of fake passport agents and to only deal with authorized passport agents to avoid falling victim to fraud.

In a statement, the NAPTIP said that it would continue to work with other security agencies to combat the menace of fake passport issuance and other forms of human trafficking.

The agency urged Nigerians to report any suspected cases of fake passport issuance to the nearest NAPTIP office or the police.