Tourist guide sues extortion of $200,000 for passport renewal

A tourist guide, Adesanya Oresanya, has accused a Nigerian Immigration officer, Bako Doma, of extorting N200,000 for passport renewal.

The applicant, who spoke with PUNCH subwayalso claimed that the immigration officer stopped taking his calls.

He claimed that he applied for a passport renewal at NIS headquarters in Abuja in April 2021.

Oresanya explained that he decided to seek the help of the immigration officer because there was an age difference in his old passport and some of his documents.

He said he was told the problem could only be resolved at the immigration office in Abuja, adding that Doma promised to get everything sorted out within two months.

However, Oresanya lamented that attempts to obtain his passport for more than 21 months had not yielded a positive response.

He complained that the application process allowed for extortion.

The media executive said he was unable to attend training, workshops and business trips because he did not have his passport with him.

He said: “In February 2022 I called Servicom; I got their phone number from the NIS website. They collected the officer’s records from me so they could hear from his side.

“They told me to call back and I did. They said she didn’t get through to him. I called the second time, same thing and the third time I called they called him while my call was still on but he didn’t pick up. They said that has been the situation ever since.

Finally, after about five calls, he took his call and they said they told him to come to Servicom’s office and explain his side of the story. Then I called them again and they said he explained that he had submitted all my documents and paid the necessary fine.

“They said it took a long time because it was the controller general who approved age gap issues. After a while they (Servicom) stopped recording my calls.

“Initially I gave Officer Bako Sani Doma N150,000 in April 2021. He said he needs more money to boost the process in July 2022, so I gave him another N50,000.”

On how it had affected him, Oresanya said, “I have missed international tourism conferences that I normally attend; I organize trips for Nigerians going abroad. I can’t do that again. It affects my economic life and business.

“There are many international agreements I would have made, but as I don’t have a valid passport, I can’t do that.”

Attempts to apprehend the officer were unsuccessful.

His phone was unreachable and he did not respond to several text messages sent to him.

The NOS spokesman, Tony Akuneme, stated that he was willing to solve the problem.

Akuneme said: “My name is Tony Akuneme, and when it comes to filling out my passport and I write Akuneme Tony, it’s off; so is the new passport system.

“But many people don’t understand or don’t even know. So all we’re doing right now is sensitization.

“The truth is that the new leadership is determined to change orientation, punish offenders and sensitize people for being Nigerians; they can’t come from the moon to become an immigration officer.

“We have taken over the work of the Servicom unit because they are overwhelmed. I am willing to take over the matter and will see to it that it is resolved. We will try to solve the passport problem; then we can now look at the immigration officer and see what we can do with him.”