Chief Dokpesi & the Nigerian Immigration Service: Facts of the Matter

The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), recently alleged that, the Chairman Emeritus of DAAR Communications LTD, and chieftain of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), High Chief Raymond Dokpesi’s International Passport was not stamped/Signed by Immigration officials, upon his departure and return to the country. The NIS also alleged that Chief Dokpesi did not travel with his valid International Passport, claiming that the Federal High Court in Abuja, that has being in possession of Chief Dokpesi’s International Passport did not inform the NIS before releasing the Passport to him.

This allegation is completely false and exists only in the imaginations of the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mr. Mohammed Babandede and some officers.

Nigerians will recall that Chief Raymond Dokpesi was harassed, detained by members of the Nigerian immigration service (NIS), at the Nnamdi Azikiwe, International Airport, Abuja, upon his return to the country after a brief medical trip abroad.

As if that was not enough, Chief Dokpesi was again invited by the NIS, on Wednesday, 27th March, 2019, for questioning on the purported whereabout of his International Passport, instead of approaching the FHC, Abuja.

Information available to us however reveals that, Chief Dokpesi traveled twice outside of the country between November 2018 to March 2019.

On the 26th of November 2018, Chief Dokpesi left Nigeria to London via Dubai on Emirates Airlines. He also left Nigeria on March 8,2019 to UAE and returned on March 22,2019 also on Emirates Airlines. In all the trips,his only valid international passport (A50445496), was duly stamped/signed by officials of the NIS at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. See Appendix I and II.

Appendix I

Appendix II

It is therefore ridiculous, mischievous and completely unacceptable for a reputable agency like the NIS, to resort to falsehood and blackmail, in order to satisfy the vindictive administration of the All Progressive Congress (APC) led Federal Government.

High Chief Raymond Dokpesi is an honest, patriotic Nigerian, and has not violated any known immigration laws as alleged by the NIS.The NIS cannot claim ignorance of Chief Dokpesi’s movements in and out of the country, as no commercial airline operating in Nigeria will airlift any passenger outside of the country without a valid International Passport, an entry Visa and other necessary immigration procedures.