Some choice property seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under interim forfeiture and investigations are now being used as accommodation and transit camps by their operatives and other security agencies in some parts of the country, Daily’s investigations reveal. Hotels and residential buildings on which permanent forfeiture orders are yet to be obtained are some of the property that have been converted to use by the EFCC, police, DSS and civil defence officials. country, Daily’s investigations reveal. Hotels and residential buildings on which permanent forfeiture orders are yet to be obtained are some of the property that have been converted to use by the EFCC, police, DSS and civil defence officials. Gun salutes to mark death of Prince Philip Emir of Lere dies at 77, buried amidst eulogies While the federal government has the power to allocate permanently forfeited property to security and other government agencies, legal practitioners say governments at the federal and state levels do not have the power to tamper with buildings under temporary forfeiture. An interim forfeiture order obtained through an “exparte order” is usually for 14 days to preserve such property (subject matter) so that it will not be dissipated or sold. Within the 14 days, the owner, if any, is expected to come forward to explain why such property should not be forfeited to the federal government. However, there is serious uncertainty over the powers of the EFCC to manage property and assets forfeited to the federal government. Initially, EFCC engaged agents to manage property and assets on its behalf while the interim forfeiture order was in force to maintain the value of the property and to prevent waste. In early 2012, a Federal High Court nullified the appointment of agents employed by the EFCC to manage forfeited property and assets and held that the EFCC was only empowered to seal seized houses. According to the court, if the EFCC wished to deal with the houses other than to put them under seal, then it must obtain a court order to that effect. However, there are concerns over the legality of the conversion of confiscated property under interim forfeiture and investigation, to serve as accommodation or transit camps for EFCC personnel and other security operatives. Investigations by Daily Trust revealed that a number of buildings marked, “Under EFCC Investigation, Keep Off” as well as property under interim forfeiture are currently being used as accommodation by some EFCC operatives and those of other security formations such the police, DSS and NSCDC. Halal Fountain Hotel Operatives convert ‘sealed’ Kaduna hotel to transit camp Since the EFCC sealed it in late 2015, Halal Fountain Hotel (Annex), situated at No. 29A, Rabah Road, Kaduna, said to be owned by a former National Security Adviser, retired Col. Sambo Dasuki, has emblazoned in red paint the inscription: ‘EFCC Keep off, under EFCC investigation’. Our correspondents gathered that though the hotel has been under investigation in connection with the $2.1bn arms scandal involving the former NSA, the once sprawling hotel with an elegant design has become a temporary home for some EFCC cadets and officials. Following a petition written to Daily Trust newspapers by the Badarawa Concerned Youths, our correspondents visited the hotel and confirmed that despite being on temporary forfeiture, EFCC officials have been using the facility ‘illegally’. The petitioners had alleged that: “The facilities in the premises, including television sets in the rooms have disappeared into thin air.” However, during a visit by Daily Trust on Sunday, it was observed that the premises was empty but for a staff sighted in the hallway. The staff confirmed that the EFCC had been using the facility as a transit camp for its cadets and other staff on transfer. Our correspondents could not independently verify if items were missing as they were denied access to the hotel rooms. However, since the gate was open, our correspondents sighted a vehicle and a motorcycle while a man who did not identify himself told Daily Trust that the hotel was under investigation and therefore, not open to the public. He also confirmed that EFCC cadets were lodging at the time of the visit, saying it was a temporary arrangement before they sorted out their accommodations. “Cadets who have passed out from the EFCC camp use this place; the people you see coming into this place are EFCC staff. They stay here temporarily before they get accommodation and move to their permanent abodes,” he said. When contacted, the EFCC Zonal Head in Kaduna, Sanusi Abdullahi, confirmed to Daily Trust on Sunday that the facility was presently being used as a transit camp but that it was not true that some items including television sets were missing from the hotel. Abdullahi said staff on transfer to Kaduna, including himself, have benefited from the use of the facility and said the EFCC had done a lot of maintenance work to ensure the hotel did not fall apart. The zonal head said the commission had taken inventory of all items in the hotel with pictures to show the state of the facility when it was temporarily forfeited to it. In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), findings by one of our correspondents revealed that some of the properties seized under the administration of erstwhile acting EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu, are occupied by security agents including police, DSS and NSCDC officials under the guise of securing them. Some sections of the properties that are not occupied by the security agents, according to findings, are already rotting away while bushes and reptiles have taken over some of such landed properties. When Daily Trust visited one of the properties reportedly owned by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, located at Yakubu Gowon Crescent, Asokoro, Abuja, fierce-looking security agents were seen guarding the building. A fruit seller in the area who did not want his name in print said since the house was marked as one of the properties under investigation by the EFCC four years ago, men

Getting the Nigerian International Passport is now shrouded in corruption, racketeering and irregularities that see Nigerians paying 100 per cent more than the official fee, investigations by Daily Trust have shown. Some immigration officers use the shortage of passport booklets to extort applicants as checks at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) passport offices in some states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) showed. It was also gathered that there are administrative bottlenecks allegedly created by the officers to exploit Nigerians, while those willing to go through the official channels are frustrated. Some immigration officers involved in the extortion were unapologetic and rude about it. Our correspondents report that there are syndicates in the state offices that ensure that the passports of those willing to pay the extra charges, which go into their pockets, are fast-tracked and delivered promptly. NIS spokesmen in the states declined to comment saying it was a federal issue, while the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Sunday James, said he would not respond to the allegations until the investigation is published. “You have done your investigations; if your reports are true, we will read them in the newspapers and respond appropriately. You will not get any reaction from me for something I don’t know because I didn’t commission anybody. It’s you who commissioned people to go out. When we see it, if it is true, fine; if not, we will see the kind of reaction we will give to you,” he said. In Abuja, two locations are available for International Passport applicants to apply for the document – the passport office of the (NIS) headquarters in Sauka and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the NIS in Gwagwalada. Most applicants prefer to use the office in Gwagwalada to process their passports with one applicant, who only gave his name as John, saying it was “easier to runs things there.” According to them, getting things done through the backdoor is easier at the FCT Command of the NIS. Without the documents required for the application, which include local government letter of identification, birth certificate/age declaration, and guarantor’s form sworn to before a Commissioner of Oaths/Magistrate/High Court Judge, one could easily pay extra N10, 000 and within 48 hours, he will have his international passport, Daily Trust gathered. Checks also showed that some applicants are willing to cut corners to avoid going through the official channels. For the enhanced electronic passport, applicants are to apply online at https://portal.immigration.gov.ng by clicking on the type of passport application they want before completing the online application form. They are to select a passport office in the state they wish to obtain the passport, proceed to make payment online and obtain reference and application ID numbers. After that, they are to proceed to the Passport Office selected during the online application with relevant requirements including evidence of payment made. However, most applicants are not ready to go through such process. They would rather pay extra money to corrupt personnel to fast-track the process. At the NIS Headquarters, only the enhanced e-passport is available which sometimes takes up to three weeks to process because the National Identity Number (NIN) is required. For the enhanced E-Passport, 32-Page 5-year standard passport costs N25, 000 but applicants pay as much as N40, 000 to corrupt personnel to help fast-track the process. Our reporter, who monitored the process at the NIS Headquarters Passport Office, discovered that there are well-structured syndicates within the system who perpetuate the corrupt act. When the applicant pays the extra money, his file is quickly moved and approved by the superior officers as everyone involved in the passport process have their share of the extra money paid by the applicants. The only aspect the syndicate cannot control is the NIN verification stage where the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) is required to verify the applicant’s NIN. This could take up to a week. All the applicants that spoke to Daily Trust said they prefer to pay extra cost charged by the officers to get the application process fast-tracked. “If you don’t bribe them, your application could take up to a month. They only treat your file when they are done with those who bribed. So, my brother, I will rather bribe and get out of here as soon as possible,” an applicant who pleaded anonymity told one of our correspondents. In Kano, many officers and men of the NIS have been transferred to other places with credible sources saying the reason was to “disband a cartel.” A source at the NIS at Amana House, Zaria Road, said, “The office was recently reorganised based on the order of the CG. Nearly all staff except 5 were transferred to different places after the leadership of the branch was found to be ‘involved in passport racketeering.’” He said they were accused of delaying applications by ordinary Nigerians and prioritizing those of VIPs or those ready to pay extra money. Daily Trust learnt that while it took weeks to process an application of the ordinary Nigerian, VIPs get theirs within 24hrs. “The branch had about 80 staff, but they have all been transferred out of Kano, including the Passport Control Officer (PCO). Only six staff run the branch now and nothing is said to be happening because all passport operations have been postponed,” the source said. However, some junior staff alleged that they were unjustly punished because only senior officers were responsible for passport racketeering. Even though the Amana House branch is notorious for passport racketeering, the problem is not limited to them as similar activities also take place at another Kano branch located at Farm Centre. A visit to the office revealed a nearly empty facility because there were no booklets to produce passports for applicants. A source within the passport unit said a new passport cost N25,000 while renewal cost less. “We don’t have booklets for now to produce the passports and we don’t know when the booklets will be