– The Lagos police has uncovered two places where they forge national identity cars
– The police raided the firms and recovered forged ID cards and machines
– They also arrested two of the people operating the forgery business
The National ID card process has been fraught with problems as after two years, many are yet to receive theirs
Forgery seems to be a booming business in Lagos as the state police have discovered two firms in the Ikorodu and Ejigbo areas of the state.
The two firms were allegedly used for the production of forged national identity cards, voters’ registration cards and driver’s licence.
The police arrested seven members of staff and recovered several forged national identity cards, 41 temporary voters’ cards, forged driver’s licence, printing, laminating and cutting machines.
According to Fatai Owoseni, the Lagos police command boss, the suspects misinformed unsuspecting members of the public through social media that they worked for the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
READ ALSO: NIMC On Many Uses Of The New National Identity Card
The suspects then scan an original and thereafter, replace it with details and passport photographs of their customers.
The suspects arrested were: 33-year-old Odupolu Odugbemiga, a graduate, who was arrested in one of the firm’s offices in Ikorodu, alongside his colleagues identified as Favour Nwaneke, 38, and Toyeeb Lasisi, 25.
Odugbemiga said was drawn into fraud because he could not secure any job after leaving school.
He said: “I graduated from the university in 2013. I joined the company last year to get myself busy and I am paid N15,000 per month. I do pre-registration of National ID cards for people online.
“We collect N300 for registration, per person. We help those who do not have government-recognised ID cards to get temporary voter’s cards, which are tendered before they can be captured.”
Nwaneke denied involvement in the forgery, she said: “I was only employed based on my knowledge of some computer packages. I do not know how to produce fake ID cards.”
READ ALSO: Nigerians Furious Over MasterCard’s Logo On National ID Cards
Meanwhile, NIMC representative described the advantages of the new national identity card. Apart from many other things, it may also be used as an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card anywhere in the world where there is MasterCard logo.
Briefing journalists today in Abuja, NIMC’s Director of Technical Services, Mr Emmanuel Ogungbe disclosed the Commission have already signed an agreement with MasterCard.
He explained that, besides being just an ID card, it is also a cash card, so the holder can withdraw money in any place. Moreover, especially within the West African sub-region, it soon would become possible to travel with this card only, passport-free.
Watch a video of a Nigerian speaking on western influence here:
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