EFCC Clears Immigration Comptroller-General Nandap Over Visa Racketeering Allegations

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nandap, is not under investigation for alleged visa racketeering, despite media reports suggesting otherwise.

The anti-graft agency’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, issued the clarification in a statement on Monday, describing the reports linking Nandap to the probe as false and misleading.

“The Commission wishes to state unequivocally that it has no case with the Immigration CG,” Oyewale said. He added that the NIS boss “is not remotely connected to these investigations.”

According to the EFCC, the clarification became necessary following media reports and online speculation suggesting the commission was probing Nandap over an alleged visa overstay racketeering scheme within the NIS. The scheme allegedly involved immigration officers unlawfully collecting money from visa overstayers instead of enforcing penalties under the Nigeria Visa Policy 2025, which imposes a $15 daily fine on foreign nationals who remain in the country after their visas expire.

The commission confirmed that subsisting cases of alleged visa fraud against some immigration officers are already before the Federal High Court. Investigators are reportedly examining about ₦700 million traced to the account of one officer under investigation, while another suspect is being probed over properties allegedly acquired through third parties.

The EFCC said further investigations are ongoing and could result in additional NIS officers being arraigned in the coming weeks. It stressed, however, that these proceedings are limited to the officers concerned and do not extend to the Comptroller-General.

The commission urged journalists and media organisations to verify information about its activities before publication. “The media is enjoined to always seek clarifications on the activities of the EFCC to avoid misrepresentation of facts,” the statement added.

Nandap has not issued a separate public statement on the matter as of press time.