ICPC Secures Six-Year Jail Term For Visa Racketeer

By Olufunke Olorunfemi

Abuja, (An24)– The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission said it had secured a six-year jail term for a visa racketeer, Victor Ndubueze.

The News Agency of Nigeria stated that the commission made this known in a statement by its spokesperson, Mrs. Rasheedat Okoduwa, in Abuja on Monday.

Okoduwa said Ndubueze was convicted and sentenced by Justice Abubakar Umar of the Federal Capital Territory High Court Maitama, Abuja.

She stated that the convict was found guilty on three counts bordering on impersonation and forgery under sections 132 and 363 of the Penal Code, brought against him by the ICPC.

The offences, according to the spokesperson, are punishable under sections 132 and 364 of the 532 Laws of the FCT.

She said Ndubueze was convicted on all the three counts and subsequently sentenced to two years imprisonment on each of the counts which would run concurrently.

Okoduwa quoted counsel for the ICPC, Ekoi Akponimisingha, to have told the court that the convict posed as a director in the Consular and Immigration Service Department of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, to commit the offences.

She alleged that Ndubueze sent false documents via email while posing as Mr. Akinkumi Rockson, who is the CISD Director II in the ministry.

“His intention was to hoodwink the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs into offering him entry visas for five applicants via the Trade Mission of Taiwan in Abuja.’’

According to the ICPC spokesperson, the convict had also forged a letter of introduction from the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the name of Rockson.

The ICPC spokesperson stated that in the spurious letter, he introduced the five applicants as journalists going to Taipei for a computer expo, whereas they were all automobile spare parts dealers resident in Aba, Abia State.

Okoduwa said the ICPC, upon being alerted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the criminal activities of the convict, began investigations which established Ndubueze’s culpability.