A journalist recently fell victim to a scam orchestrated by Yunusa Yabahanze, an Immigration Officer at the Nigerian Immigration Service Headquarters in Abuja, whose photo is on the cover of this story. The journalist sought to renew his 32-page passport and was directed to Yunusa for assistance.
The Scam
Yunusa demanded ₦75,000, which the journalist transferred with receipt evidence saved on his phone (August 27, 2024). Yunusa promised the passport would be ready by September 3 but later requested an additional ₦70,000 for expedited processing.
Exposing the Fraud
When the passport’s scheduled release date passed, Yunusa provided excuses. The journalist visited the office and discovered the payment slips were fake, displaying a woman’s face when inputted into the computer.
Consequences
Yunusa admitted to lying and promised reimbursement but failed to fulfill commitments. The journalist filed a petition with the Immigration Police office three months ago, but no action has been taken.
