CPC warns on visa scam

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has turned its searchlight on corruption-prone processes in visa acquisition.

This is as a result of ongoing investigations and the recent arrests of culprits throughout the country.


The ICPC, has, therefore, warned travellers, especially desperate young persons, seeking to undertake business, academic, leisure or medical trips abroad to be wary of using touts and dubious travel agencies in the procurement of visas. Most of these agents usually hang around the vicinity of embassies with no fixed addresses.


“Our investigations show that these agents usually make mouth-watering claims of procuring lucrative jobs, citizenships and academic placements abroad for clients in addition to procuring visas in record time.


“In some instances, they also state that their clients would not be required to physically appear for visa interviews at the embassies or High Commissions.


“These dubious agents and touts offer services which include facilitation for the acquisition of international passports, assistance in filling their clients’ details in online visa application forms and the provision of required support travel documents.


“These support documents are oftentimes forged and include cloned bank statements, birth certificates, fake or real admission letters from foreign schools and invitation letters for professional, religious and academic conferences; business concerns or from family and friends.


“The commission warns further that travellers, agents and any collaborator in the Civil Service and embassies are liable to be arrested or sanctioned as anything that would compromise the process of transparent issuance of visas involving the use of cloned or fake visa supporting official documents during applications will not be tolerated,” ICPC said.