- NIS Disowns Passport In London Property Dispute
- Witness detailed passport process, insisted document lacks traceable issuance history.
- Court adjourned case to May 18 for continuation of hearing.
The Nigeria Immigration Service has told a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, that a Nigerian passport presented in a London property dispute linked to the late Jeremiah Useni does not exist in its records.
The disclosure was made during the resumed hearing in the trial involving Mike Ozekhome and Ponfa Useni over alleged forgery and impersonation.’
EDITOR’S PICKS
- JAMB Delists 23 CBT Centres, Warns 89 After Mock UTME Review
- NASA Astronauts Return to Earth After First Human Trip to the Moon in 50 Years
- INEC Shifts Nationwide Voter Revalidation Until After 2027 General Election
EKO HOT BLOG reports that the case centres on claims that false documents were used to assert ownership of a property in London said to be connected to the late former minister.
Testifying as the first prosecution witness, Aridegbe Akim, an official of the Nigeria Immigration Service, told the court that the passport bearing number A07535463, allegedly issued to one Tali Shani, could not be traced in the agency’s database.
He explained that the immigration service maintains detailed electronic records of all issued passports and can retrieve a holder’s full details through its system. However, he said no information was found for the name associated with the document in question.
Under cross examination, the witness stated that Nigerian passports are machine readable and carry unique identification numbers assigned during production. He added that the process of obtaining a passport involves payment, submission of documents, biometric enrolment and final issuance, all of which are digitally recorded.
According to him, none of these processes were linked to the passport presented in court.
He acknowledged that the document resembled a genuine Nigerian passport but insisted that every valid passport must have a verifiable record in the system.
Following his testimony, the prosecuting counsel sought an adjournment to enable the presentation of another witness. The request was not opposed by the defence.
Justice Chizoba Oji subsequently adjourned the matter until May 18 for continuation of hearing.
The case, filed by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, accuses the defendants of forging an international passport and an irrevocable power of attorney, as well as impersonating a fictitious individual to support a claim over a property located at 79 Randall Avenue in London.
The prosecution further alleged that the property may have been acquired through unlawful means linked to the late Jeremiah Useni.
