Thread by @RephidimC, THE FRAUDULENT SYNDICATE EMESHED IN THE PROCEDURE FOR THE AUTHENTICATION OF DOCUMENTS [...]

THE FRAUDULENT SYNDICATE EMESHED IN THE PROCEDURE FOR THE AUTHENTICATION OF DOCUMENTS : MY EXPERIENCE AT THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, ABUJA ON THE 11TH AND 12TH OF AUGUST, 2020.

From roughly the first week of August 2020, I started trying to reach @NigeriaMFA...

...in a bid to make enquiries about the process involved in authenticating one's documents.

I figured owing to the COVID situation, an official channel of the ministry would be the right link.

Sadly till date (almost 2 months after), there has been no response. @GeoffreyOnyeama

I decided to proceed to Abuja as collegues that had undergone similar procedure had narrated the pre-lockdown process to me.

I had an appointment on the 12th of August- for this, I needed my documents authenticated, firstly at the @NigEducation and then @NigeriaMFA.

@DrJoeAbah

I submitted my documents @NigEducation on the 10th of August, retrieved on the 11th and proceeded to @NigeriaMFA.

I approached the gate and the security men stationed asked me what I wanted. I explained and was told the ministry was on partial lockdown 'cos of COVID.

@hadeyboi7

That I understood.
I was a bit disappointed though as I saw the situation as a preventable one (if @NigeriaMFA had replied any of my messages).

Now, just as I turned to walk away, one of the security men called me back and presented me a way out...
@berachah_beulah

...to pay a thousand Naira (1,000 Naira) per document to get my job done.

At that point, I had questions like "Is the ministry really closed? or this is the new 'normal' owing to COVID? or its just a scheme on the part of the security men?" on my mind...

@Ajidefeerefe

Furthermore, I considered "If the ministry is as you claim it is, who is going to to authenticate my papers if I hand them over to you?”

Mind you, I had 13 documents (including photocopies).

To my utmost dismay... @Kinging_David

...the security men categorically told me nobody would work on my documents without me going through them, which would mean parting with 13k. I asked if this was official payment and the response was a No.

"What do I do?" was the only thing on my mind at that point. @HiChief_

I declined the offer and walked opposite the ministry.

P.S.: If you're familiar with Nigeria, you'd know there are so-called "agents" that loiter around MDAs and know everything about anything within and would get your job done if you can pay their fee.

@OmoGbajaBiamila

Opposite the ministry, I met a young man (probably in his 30s) - you guessed rightly: an agent - and after a short discussion with him, it was clear this young man knew his onions with respect to authentication of documents and processes within @NigeriaMFA.

@segalink

He explained the 1,000 I was billed was infact standard "bribery" fee, which always got shared between 3 parties.

1. The agent (collects documents) - 400 Naira
3. @NigeriaMFA staff inside (authenticates documents) - 500 Naira
3. Messenger (link between 1 and 3) - 100 Naira.

He further explained he had been in the "business" for the past 3 years and from the way he spoke, if he had said 10 years, I would have believed as he truly knew stuff.

He offered to collect 800 naira from me (he would still have made good money as I had 13 papers). @elolatan1

I decided to walk away as I didn't want "stories that touch" if my documents went missing.

I put a call through to someone I felt might know something and he linked me with a staff of the ministry, who on calling, came around to collect my documents.

@MrOdanz

He didn't talk about payment, I didn't either- I felt being that link he was a staff of the ministry and collected my papers, then all I had been told were simply fables so I could drop "money for the boiz"

He simply asked me to meet him 9am the next day to retrieve my papers.

I needed to walk back to where I would board a cab heading to where I was lodged. I encountered the agent I had earlier discussed with and he was visibly angry.
I pressed to know what had caused the sudden change and he admitted it was because I wouldn't "do business with him".

...I got the signal this was a young man thriving on the
wings of a corrupt system.

9am the 12th of August, I was back at the ministry.

I called as agreed and I heard those golden words "prepare my money".

Long story short, same 1k per document.
13k Cash.
@EbenezarWikina

Well, I paid as he wasn't going to release the documents without his money paid.

and from the way the whole scenario payed out that day, it was obvious he didn't want anyone seeing me with authenticated documents(it could have been a part of the grand plan though). @THardeola

From stuff I gathered, this authentication scam is a "normal" stuff at the ministry.

I called my contact to inform him of the development and his response confirmed the above stance. He said "Bi won shey n shey niyen" in Yoruba meaning “That is how they do it”. @OgunshinaOluwa5

BTW, the story commonly told is that the desk officer who normally authenticates doesn't do it, hence, 'workers of iniquity' access his/her office before resumption or at close, for them to sign. Million dollar Question is "do they forge his/her signature?"

@OBA_DAFIDI

I painstakingly examined the signatures on my documents and discovered the weren’t “printed” on the documents, but actively signed. Hence, it is either the officer is an accomplice or someone has his/her signature mastered.

@tobe_chii

A seal goes alongside the signature. One without the other renders the process invalid.

One dark possibility is that there are different signatures that go along with this seal for different applicants. Question is "who is going to know which is right/wrong?"

@AteizaWisdom

COVID caused it, they said.

Another colleague of mine was at the ministry just 2 weeks ago and called the practice was still the same.

COVID didn't cause this! It is the norm at the ministry.

@fisayosoyombo

I simply hope that something is done urgently to help Nigerians who go to the ministry daily, especially young ones pursuing admission.

In a day, roughly 50 persons go to the @NigeriaMFA for authentication purpose. How do I know? from the number that goes to @NigEducation.

I had 13 documents and on the average, everyone has 6 documents each (including photocopies).

6 documents * 1000 per document * 50 persons =300,000 exchanges hands per day.
In a week, 300,000 * 5= 1.5 million Naira.

In a month, that is 6 million Naira.

@OBusayo_S @Iam_AnjolaE

Laughable, wrong and inhumane.

I sincerely hope the Honourable Minister @GeoffreyOnyeama looks into this and helps to clean the mess some bad eggs have created.

The worst criminal of all, would in a good system have his/ her hands tied. Please let's fix our systems!
@itz_Jollor

Fellow Nigerians, please speak up. Some of our leaders are good people who want to do effect changes, but they don't have the eyes and ears on the outside to feed them credibly.

If an MDA does well, praise them if you can.

@nigimmigration is a solid example.

@shadrachAkpem

If they don't do well, address them, Heads without denigrating their personalities. Issue, not person.

That's the least we can do as citizens.

Remember, persons go and come, but systems remain with us.

The lord be with us all.

@Omotayojabulany @CaesarAdeleye @AdedoyinGabriel

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