EFCC probes alleged visa overstay racketeering in Nigeria Immigration Service

Indications have emerged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is investigating an alleged visa overstay racketeering in the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS.

It was gathered that five officers of the Service, including a Deputy Comptroller, have been quizzed as part of the ongoing probe.

Sources in the EFCC explained that the racketeering scheme has been going on for a long time, dating back to several previous NIS Comptroller-Generals but only recently came to light. According to them, the scheme involves alleged extortion of huge sums from foreigners who overstayed their visas, in order to allow them to remain in the country illegally.

The practice violates provisions of the Nigeria Visa Policy 2025, through which the Federal Government introduced a new penalty system to deter visa abuse. According to provisions of the policy, foreigners who overstay their visa will be fined $15 for each day they remain in the country after their visa has expired.

Sources said EFCC operatives are investigating senior immigration officers at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and the NIS headquarters, Abuja.

Ongoing investigations have reportedly uncovered a bank account containing about N700 million and several multi-billion naira estates linked to the officers under investigation. It was gathered that the properties were acquired through proxies. However, some of the proxies were said to have claimed that their names were used to operate multiple bank accounts and acquire landed property.

It was gathered that several of the officers under investigation work with the Comptroller General of Immigration, CGI, Kemi Nandap. The probe is looking at whether the CGI benefitted from the racket, according to the sources.

EFCC sources said those that have been quizzed in connection to the probe are senior officers of the NIS, including personal aides of the CGI.

Information provided to the EFCC by a whistleblower – a female immigration officer – prompted the ongoing investigation, according to the sources.

“We found out that the extortion of over-stayers have been going on for several years under past CGs, some of whom appeared to have benefitted from the scheme.

‘’For instance, a Deputy Superintendent of Immigration has been serving at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport for over 10 years, which is very unusual. A search of his apartment turned up various stamps used by all the international airports in Nigeria which he uses in carrying out his nefarious activity.

“He is known to relate directly with all serving CGs, a curious finding that is at the heart of what is going on in the agency. His admissions have been illuminating as he is the linchpin of the operation,” one of the sources said.

The source said the EFCC may summon some past CGs in the course of the investigation.

As at the time of filing this report, the anti-graft agency is yet to officially comment on the investigation.

It will be recalled that Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in April 2026 revealed that more than 840,000 foreign nationals are currently residing in Nigeria beyond the validity of their visas.

Explaining that the figure was obtained through Nigeria’s upgraded immigration data system, Tunji-Ojo noted that irregular migration is not a challenge faced only by Nigerians abroad, but also a growing issue in the country.

EFCC probes alleged visa overstay racketeering in Nigeria Immigration Service