Extortion: FAAN bars two NIS officers from operating in all Nigerian airports
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, has proved its No tolerance for extortion with the ban of two Immigration Officers from operating in all airports in the country.
The two officers attached to Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, names withheld were investigated for an alleged extortion of the sum of eight thousand naira (N8,000) from a 14 year old girl traveling on Lufthansa Airline on the 14th of February, 2022.
According to a press statement by Mrs. Faithful, Hope-Ivbaze, FAAN, Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, “following a tweeted allegation on the 19th of February 2022 by the mother of a 14year old girl travelling on Lufthansa Airline that two officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service extorted the sum of eight thousand naira from her daughter, a team of FAAN Aviation Security officers were commissioned to investigate the allegation”.
Upon investigation, Mrs. Hope-Ivbaze says, they found the allegation to be true, as the officers involved were identified with the help of footages on our CCTV facility, and the cooperation from the Nigerian Immigration Service.
“Consequently, the officers were made to refund the exact amount collected from the passenger”.
The On Duty Cards of the officers have been withdrawn permanently and banned from working in any Nigerian airport, to serve as deterrent to others.
“We would like to commend the mother of the child, who has confirmed receipt of the money, for deeming it fit to escalate the case, and assisting us tremendously in the course of our investigation”.
FAAN expressed its appreciation to the Comptroller of Immigration, MMA and her team for her cooperation and support in addressing this issue.
“The Authority will continue to identify and sanction any airport official (including FAAN officials) found to be extorting passengers or perpetuating any act of illegality at our airports”.
