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From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
The Federal Government has commenced investigation of alleged extortion of passport applicants in its High Commission in London.
The investigation, according to the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tope Adeleye Elias-Fatile, is sequel to a video clip in circulation where the Immigration section of the London Commission was accused of some improper conducts.
The ministry’s probe followed a similar probe announced on Monday by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS)on alleged extortion of passport applicants in London.
“The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, has been drawn to a video clip in circulation accusing the Immigration Section of the High Commission of Nigeria in London of some improper conducts and the ministry wishes to inform the public that the matter is currently under investigation.”
Government further assured Nigerians that the ministry will work closely with the NIS, to ascertain the veracity of the allegation.
“Considering that the staff who process passport applications and issue passports in the High Commission are immigration officers, the ministry of Foreign Affairs will work very closely with the NIS in Abuja, in their ongoing investigations on the same issue, to confirm the veracity of the allegations contained in the video clip,” the federal government added.
The ministry, however, restated its abhorrence for corruption among its officers and assured that if found culpable, the culprits would be dealt with accordingly.
“It must be underlined that the ministry has zero tolerance for corrupt practices among its officers.
“There are internal mechanisms instituted to address issues like this and when necessary, the process would be activated against any erring officer found either at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja or in any of our missions around the world,” the ministry said.
