Nigeria EFCC uncovers $700m cash scandal and visa overstay racket

Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has brought charges against former Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) coordinating director Peter Hena, alleging that he received more than N700 million in cash between January 2017 and December 2018. The charge sheet details payments of N45 million from a finance director, N75 million from a deputy manager, N99 million from another official and a further N127 million from an assistant director, among other sums, with the case involving a total of nine individuals facing a 42‑count indictment.

In a separate investigation, the EFCC busted a visa‑overstay racketeering network within the Nigerian Immigration Service. The probe, triggered by a whistle‑blower, identified at least five serving immigration officers—including a deputy comptroller—and uncovered about N700 million in a suspect’s bank account and several multi‑billion‑naira estate holdings. The scheme allegedly extorted foreigners who overstayed their visas at Lagos and Abuja airports and at the NIS headquarters, violating the Nigeria Visa Policy 2025.