The comptroller-general of the Nigerian immigration service, Mohammed Babandede, has supported Comrade Phils, the man who exposed alleged bribery at the Port Harcourt office of the service after he was humiliated by officials for refusing to part with an illegal extra fee to process his passport renewal.
A video of the incident had gone viral prompting the Immigration office to contact the man and react to the bribery allegations.
The Comptroller-General tweeted thus:
” The public have right to demand for justice when we deny services to them or demand a bribe. The complainant has the right to report to EFCC or ICPC and as the CG I will assist him.”
The public have right to demand for justice when we deny services to them or demand bribe. The complainant has the right to report to EFCC or ICPC and as the CG I will assist him
— Muhammed babandede (@babandedemb) April 6, 2019
His tweets were followed by those from the official immigration Twitter handle re-affirming to the public that they can report and refuse extortions at any of their offices nationwide.
The Comptroller General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede MFR,has received a complaint of poor service delivery in one of our service Windows in PH. Even though on official duty abroad, he's directed an investigation assuring that anyone culpable will be punished.
— Nigeria Immigration Service (@nigimmigration) April 6, 2019
He further assures the Complainant&the public of due diligence on the matter& reiterates management's zero tolerance for unprofessional conducts by any of our Personnel.
— Nigeria Immigration Service (@nigimmigration) April 6, 2019
Comrade Phils tweeted earlier his intention to file a formal report against the immigration to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Monday.
On Monday, I will summit a formal pettition to the EFCC and the ICPC and copy the Immigration office in Abuja calling for an investigation into the massive corrupt practices going on at the Immigration office in Port Harcourt.#CorruptionIsBold #ChallengeIt pic.twitter.com/r0VD58eoAR
— Comrade Phils (@comradephils) April 5, 2019
Comrade Phils, a social activist, says that the move to expose the corruption at the immigration office was about the millions of Nigerians without a voice extorted daily by corrupt officials.
In a country where corruption is #BOLD, fighting it becomes the mandatory #DUTY of every citizen.#CorruptionIsBold#ChallengeIt pic.twitter.com/BGQY3d4a2O
— Comrade Phils (@comradephils) April 5, 2019
In an interview with WIRED Nigeria, he said: ” This fight is not about me. I can comfortably afford that extra fee was it legal but I refuse to afford such illegal money and refuse to give in to corruption. My stand is for the voiceless and innocent people of this great country who are corporately assaulted daily by these corrupt officers.”
