...Bond not applicable to all applicants-High Commission
The Deputy Senate President and the Oba of Lagos, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and His Royal Majesty, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, respectively, yesterday flayed the proposal by the British Government to demand for 3, 000 pounds bond each for Nigerians applying for visa to the United Kingdom.
The duo made this disclosure at the opening ceremony of a five-day workshop held in Lagos ans organised by the Commissioner of Police, Tunde Ogunsakin of the Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Milverton, Ikoyi.
Tagged, 'Corporate Fraud: Insider Abuse in Financial Institutions and the Implication on Developing Economy', the seminar was held in collaboration with the City of London Police.
Ekweremadu who presented a paper on 'The social impact of corruption and related crimes on a growing economy',
described the proposal by the British government a slap on the country’s face, adding that the act was baffling considering the close tie that has existed between both countries for years.
He said: "It baffles me that after so many years of our relationship with Britain, we are still talking about visa regime. I think the time has come for Britain to consider free visa regime for Nigerians and other citizens of commonwealth nations. In fact, I am advocating free visa regime not only among the commonwealth nations but also among the ECOWAS countries.”
Speaking on the menace of fraud and corruption, he said it is a global phenomenon which a global front must be created to combat it, adding that strict enforcement of anti-corruption laws, creation of special courts for corruption trial and application of ICT in crime fighting and detection would go a long way.
In his opening remarks, Akiolu called on Nigerians to join hands with SFU and other anti-graft agencies to stamp out corruption in the country.
He said, “The SFU as presently constituted need the support of everyone to get to the promise land. All Nigerians must support anti graft agencies to ensure that the primary purpose for which they were set up is achieved.
"I am happy that the Deputy Senate president is here; let us ask ourselves, what happened to Halliburton probe? What happened to the power probe in the National Assembly? All this contribute to the increasing rate of corruption in the country. That is the truth but many are not ready to speak the truth. They have all been swept under the carpet."
In response, the Deputy British High Commission, Mr. Peter Carter, said nothing has been finalised yet and peradventure the proposal is accepted by the British Government, it would not affect all visa applicants.
He said, “I am aware that the media report in the last
one week on the proposed bond has upset many people. The British Government is considering a pilot scheme in a number of countries but nothing has been confirmed yet.
“The countries that were referred to in the media report at this stage are only probabilistic. There is no definite statement that the pilot scheme will go ahead and if it does go ahead, and if it includes Nigeria, it will not start until much later this year.
"Even at that, it will involve a very small number of visa applicants who are considered to be high risk based on their previous behaviours or based on information provided in their visa applications. This is not a general visa charge."
Earlier, Ogunsakin in his welcome address said the unit was compelled to embark on the workshop due to the alarming rate of the collaboration between members of staff of banks and other financial institutions and fraudsters.
He said, “This seminar will create a format for crime prevention and control in banks and other financial institution and further open the eyes of investigators of financial crime.”
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