Nigerian national David Nduka, who tried to obtain a Guyanese passport under an assumed identity, was foiled in part by his “uncommon” accent during the application process.
Nduka was recently deported after being fined for arriving by sea without the consent of an immigration officer and making a false declaration in order to procure a new passport.
According to the Home Ministry, Nduka applied for a Guyana Passport at the Central Immigration and Passport Office on Thursday, August 15, and he presented a passport application form and 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 ministry said.
Upon further questioning, Nduka revealed that he was a Nigerian national who came to Guyana on a small boat from Suriname. He handed over his Nigerian passport, which had no Guyana immigration entry stamp.
He also told authorities that while in Guyana, he met an individual called “Joseph,” who informed him that he could assist him in obtaining a Guyana passport.
Nduka met with Joseph on Wednesday August 14, and obtained a passport application form and Guyana birth certificate. The birth certificate contained genuine information but was fraudulently obtained, the ministry noted.
Authorities were, however, unable to locate “Joseph,” since Nduka could not provide the man’s correct name or address.
Nduka was subsequently charged and after pleading guilty to the offences he was fined $50,000 with an alternative of serving six months in jail by Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on August 16.
Nduka paid the fine and was escorted to Springlands Immigration, where he was deported.
