By EZEKIEL OBI, Abuja –
A Civil Society Organization (CSO) known as Project 20 Million has demanded for an enquiry into an alleged fraud in the National Identity Number Registration (NIMC) and the compromise of the registration process as well as abuse of office financial impropriety.
Project 20 Million, through its counsel, Liberty Attorneys made the request for the enquiry under the Freedom Of Information (FOI) Act.
A copy of the letter which was sighted by our correspondent on Tuesday was addressed and received by the Director General of NIMC dated June 30, 2022.
The document which was signed by its Principal Counsel, Bar. Tochukwu Ohazuruike was titled: ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD IN THE NATIONAL IDENTITY NUMBER REGISTRATION AND THE COMPROMISE OF THE REGISTRATION PROCESS. ABUSE OF OFFICE FINANCIAL IMPROPRIETY: A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT
The document reads in part: “Our services have been retained and we now serve as counsel to Project 20 Million, a Civil Society group registered under the Company and Allied Matters Act and with the principal objective of promoting good governance and ensuring an improvement in the lives and livelihood of citizens.
“Our client appreciates the work you and your Commission are doing and your contribution to maintenance of security, identification of all citizens and streamlining the identification process for all who citizens”.
‘Our client has informed us that it requests the following information from your office in line with the Freedom of Information Act. 2015
a. Whether the system of registration being deployed by your Commission for the collection and storage of data of Nigerians has been compromised manipulated or illegally by passed by any person or organization.
b. It there has been any compromise, manipulation or illegal bypass of the process, whether it exposed the country to more security risk including whether any products of such illegal bypass or compromise have been used to commit any crime.
C. If there is any reported case of fraud in the National ldentity Number Registration process which has exposed lapses in the registration process and with capacity to compromise security.
d. Whether there are any lapses in the National dentity Number registration processes which would make it possıble for any person to have more than one National ldentity Number
e. Whether any other agency of government including the Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), National Security Adviser (NSA), National Communication Communication (NCC), raised any concern about the compromise or other wise of The National Identity Numbers Registration.
f. Whether the Commission has questioned any ot its vendor companies including Randaframes Engıneering Limited, Ninito Company Nigeria Limited File Solutions Limited and MTN Nigeria for the compromise manipulation or illegal bypass of the NIN registration process
g. Whether any of the vendor companies has been found wanting in the compromise of the NIN registration process by the Commission
h. What is the statutory sanction where a vendor is indicted or found wanting for the compromise, manipulation or bypass of steps and procedures in the NIN registration process?
I. Are there any recorded incidents where any person(s) has there been any recorded incident where a person has been able to acquire more than one National Identification Number using either the same or different names?
j. Are there any recorded incidents where any person(s) has successfully acquired or multiple National Identification Numbers with they registered multiple sim cards using multiple numbers?
Kindly note that by the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, 2015 we are to receive access to the information requested for within 7 days. Note also that if at the expiry of the said time we do not receive any access to the information requested, our client may be at liberty without any further recourse to you to:
1) Approach the Court for an application seeking judicial review of the denial
2) Address the media.
While thanking you in anticipation of your most favourable consideration, accept assurances of our highest esteem.
Below are copies of the documents:
