The Nigerian Embassy in Qatar has allegedly denied a passport renewal to a citizen who exposed racketeering by embassy officials, despite his full payment.
The Nigerian Embassy in Qatar has allegedly victimised a passport applicant for exposing corruption within its operations, SaharaReporters has revealed.
Documents show the applicant paid N315,000 (750 Qatari Riyals) for renewal but was excluded from the list of more than 500 Nigerians who received passports between August 1 and 6. “The embassy issued more than 500 passports… but the person’s name was deliberately left out. According to them, his offence is that he exposed them. This is pure victimisation,” a source said.
The July investigation had revealed how embassy officials extorted Nigerians and delayed passport issuance for months. Some applicants described the conduct as “a big scam” and “official fraud against helpless citizens abroad.”
Sources said the embassy traced the applicant through receipt details published in the report. The denial leaves him stranded, unable to work, access banking services, or travel. When contacted, Immigration Service spokesperson Akinsola Akinlabi said, “You know I don’t speak for the Embassy of Nigeria in Qatar.”