The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has indicated plans to prosecute a woman who tore her husband’s international passport at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
According to the agency, the woman will be prosecuted under Section 10(b) of Immigration Act 2015, and has already been invited for questioning.
The statement reads, “The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has launched a formal investigation following the circulation of a video on social media, showing a female traveler destroying a Nigerian standard passport at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
“The individual has been identified and invited for further investigation. If the allegations are substantiated, her actions would have constituted a breach of Section 10(b) of the Immigration Act 2015 (as amended), with corresponding penalties outlined under Section 10(h) of the same Act.
“The Nigeria Immigration Service remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding the provisions of the Immigration Act in the interest of national security, and to preserving the dignity and integrity of the nation’s legal instruments,” Udo added.
Recall that in a viral video, the female traveler identified as Favour Igiebor was seen destroying the Nigerian standard passport belonging to her husband.
She later left the airport with her children, as airport officials were also seen advising the husband to “take it easy with her”.
Meanwhile, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has strongly condemned the action, saying her action constitute an affront against the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Director General of the Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said that in furtherance of NOA national identity project campaign, especially as it relates to the national symbols, the agency will support moves by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) to investigate and prosecute such breach in line with Section 10 (B) of the Immigration Act, 2015 as a deterrence to those who may willfully damage an important national symbol as the international passport.
The agency’s position was contained in a statement signed by Paul Odenyi,
Deputy Director, Press, in Abuja on Monday.
“The international passport issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service is the property of the Federal Government and no person who has the privilege of owning one should abuse or even damage them under whatever guise.
“What the lady has done is a grievous assault to our collective asset and dent on the symbol of our identity as a nation,” he said.
Mallam Issa-Onilu also appealed to citizens to continue to show respect for the national symbols as part of our patriotic commitment to national development, saying the NOA as the custodian of these symbols will continue to promote their use and integrity.
He, however, stressed that the incident calls for increased public enlightenment and awareness campaigns by all Nigerians on the national symbols and their importance in the country.
The passport is one of the core national symbols that are enshrined in the nation’s ordinance as patriotic icon representing countries for which its derives its identity especially among nations.