The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has confirmed extortion of eight thousand naira from passenger by two officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service at the Muritala Muhammed international Airport (MMIA).

The  Spokesperson of FAAN, Mrs Faithful  Hope-Ivbaze confirmed this in a statement.

Hope – Ivbaze said that a team of FAAN Aviation Security officers were commissioned to investigate the allegation, following a tweeted allegation on  February 19, 2022 by the mother of a 14-year old girl travelling on Lufthansa Airline that two officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service extorted the sum of eight thousand naira from her daughter.

According to her, “Upon investigation, they found the allegation to be true, as the officers involved were identified with the help of footages on our CCTV facility, and the cooperation from the Nigerian Immigration Service.

She said that the officers were made to refund the exact amount collected from the passenger.

Hope-ivbaze added that officers On Duty Cards were also withdrawn permanently, and the two officials have been banned from working in any Nigerian airport, to serve as deterrent to others.

She commended the mother of the child, who has confirmed receipt of the money and for deeming it fit to escalate the case.

Hope-ivbaze also commended the mother for assisting FAAN tremendously in the course of the investigation.

She expressed appreciation to the Comptroller of Immigration at the MMIA and her team for her cooperation and support in addressing this issue.

The FAAN Spokesperson said that the Authority will continue to identify and sanction any airport official (including FAAN officials) found to be extorting passengers or perpetuating any act of illegality at our airports.