Police Uncover Fake National ID, Voters’ Cards Firms In Lagos

Lagos State Police Command has uncovered two firms in Ikorodu and Ejigbo areas of the state allegedly used for the production of forged national identity cards, voters’ registration cards and driver’s licence, arresting seven members of staff.

Recovered from both firms were several forged national identity cards, 41 temporary voters’ cards, forged driver’s licence, printing, laminating and cutting machines.

The suspects’ modus operandi, as disclosed by the command’s boss, Fatai Owoseni, is informing unsuspecting members of the public through social media that they worked for the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC.

To produce any of these identity cards, the suspects will scan an original and thereafter, replace with details and passport photographs of their customers.

One of the suspects, 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, said he opted for the job as 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.”

On her part, Nwaneke denied involvement in the forgery. She stated that she only worked on some computer packages.

The secondary school leaver, who disclosed that she was only employed last December, said: “I was only employed based on my knowledge of some computer packages. I do not know how to produce fake ID cards.”

Source: Vanguard