Senior govt official charged with forging documents to obtain passport

The federal government has charged a Director of Protocol in the
Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Maikudi Haruna, with forgery
and international passport racketeering.

Haruna appeared before a Federal High Court in Abuja on a
three-count charge brought against him by the Nigerian Immigration
Service (NIS).

He was charged with “conspiracy,” “making false statement for
the purpose of procuring Nigeria passport,” and engaging in
“forgery.”

The prosecution, led by the Head of Prosecution, NIS, Collins
Obilor, alleged that Haruna forged the official identity card of
his ministry and signature of the Minister on a letter he issued to
a friend, Abubakar Mustapha Bida, for whom he procured an official
passport, after collecting N250,000 from him.

The accused pleaded not guilty, following which the court
granted him bail at N250,000.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo commended the NIS and the Comptroller
General for their diligence in the prosecution of cases.

He adjourned till September 27, 2019 for trial.

The charge reads:

“That you Maikudi Haruna, (M), of The Federal Ministry of Power,
Works and Housing Maitama, Abuja, on or about the 10th day of May,
2018, at the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing
Headquarters, Maitama, Abuja did commit an offence to wit: forgery,
by fraudulently making official identity Card of the Ministry of
Power, Works and Housing for Mr Abubakar Mustapha Bida and signing
a letter of introduction for him, on the letter headed paper of the
Minister of Power, Works and Housing purporting same to have been
written and signed by the Honourable Minister of Power, Works and
Housing, for the purpose of procuring Official Nigerian Passport
for Abubakar Mustapha Bida supposing him to be a Special Assistant
to the Honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing and
submitting forged documents in that regard to the Nigeria
Immigration Service.

“That you Maikudi Haruna, (M), of The Federal Ministry of Power,
Works and Housing, Maitama, Abuja, on or about the 10th day of May,
2018, at the Federal M1mst1y of Power, Works and Housing Maitama,
Abuja did conspire with one Mr. Henry Canton, (now at large) to
procure official Nigerian passport for one Mr Abubakar Mustapha
Bida, who you know is not a senior government official and who is
not entitled to hold the Federal Government of Nigeria official
passport after he paid you the sum of N250,000 only.

“That you Maikudi Haruna, (M), of The Federal Ministry of Power,
Works and Housing Maitama, Abuja, on or about the 10th day of
May,2018, at the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing
Maitama, Abuja, did commit an offence to wit: Knowingly making
false statement for the purpose of procuring official Nigerian
passport for for one Mr Abubakar Mustapha Bida by introducing him
to be a Special Assistant to the Minister of Power, Works and
Housing and submitting forged documents in that regard to: the
Nigeria Immigration Service, knowing that he is not an eligible
government official.”

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