Nigerian tried obtaining Guyanese passport with genuine birth certificate

Last Updated on Saturday, 26 December 2015, 21:00 by GxMedia

A Nigerian man, who entered Guyana illegally and attempted to obtain a Guyanese passport with a genuine Guyanese birth certificate, has been deported to neighbouring Suriname, the Home Affairs Ministry said on Friday.

David Nduka pleaded guilty to arriving in Guyana by sea without the consent of an immigration officer as well as making a false declaration for the purpose of procuring a new passport.

City Magistrate Ann Mc Lennon fined him GUY$50,000 or six months imprisonment. Nduka paid the fine and was escorted to Springlands Immigration where he was deported.

After his botched attempt to fraudulently obtain a Guyanese passport, Nduka eventually told police that he was a Nigerian and that he had come to had arrived in Guyana by a small boat from Suriname.

The Home Affairs Ministry recounted that on Thursday, August 15, 2013,. Nduka applied for a Republic of Guyana Passport at the Central Immigration and Passport Office, where he presented a Passport application form and a Guyana Birth Certificate #471 in favour of John Clarke. “Upon questioning, Mr. Nduka was unable to produce his correct address and the correct names of his parents and it was detected that his accent was uncommon for that of a Guyanese National,” the Home Affairs Ministry added.

The man then handed over his Nigerian Passport which had no Guyana Immigration Entry Stamp. According to the ministry, he further stated that while in Guyana, he met an individual called Joseph who informed him that he could assist him in obtaining a Guyana Passport.   

Nduka related that he had met with Joseph on Wednesday 14th August 2013 and obtained a Passport application form and Guyana Birth Certificate. “The birth certificate contained genuine information but was fraudulently obtained. Mr. Nduka could not provide Joseph’s correct name or address,” added the ministry.

The Ministry of Home Affairs, through the Central Immigration and Passport Office of the Guyana Police Force, assured that it stands committed to enhancing the security of Guyana’s borders and meting out punishment to offenders in accordance with the Immigration Act.