ICPC Warns Enrolment Partners Over Fraudulent NIN Registrations, Threatens Seven-Year Jail Term

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has issued a stern warning to front-end enrolment partners of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), stating that any involvement in fraudulent National Identification Number (NIN) registrations could result in a seven-year prison sentence upon conviction.

The anti-graft agency specifically raised alarms over instances where enrolment agents registered non-Nigerians as citizens, describing the practice as a severe threat to national security. The warning was delivered during a joint security briefing in Abuja organized by NIMC in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and other security agencies.

Mark Faison, an Assistant Director at the ICPC, emphasized that enrolment agents are operating on behalf of the federal government and must strictly adhere to their operational guidelines.

“If you abuse the privilege you have been given, that amounts to abuse of office because you are operating on behalf of NIMC to register Nigerians,” Faison stated. “Seven years’ imprisonment is the punishment for that kind of offence. So I urge you, please, for the sake of the safety of our country, do the little you can do in your own corner.”

Faison revealed that immigration officers have already intercepted several foreign nationals carrying valid identities issued through compromised enrolment centers.

Cyber Threats Target Identity Database

The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMC, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, explained that the security briefing became necessary due to the rapid expansion of Nigeria’s digital identity infrastructure across sectors like banking, telecom, healthcare, and social interventions.

Coker-Odusote noted that national identity systems globally are facing increased cyber threats, including phishing and unauthorized access attempts. To mitigate these risks, she announced that NIMC will enforce stricter compliance measures, including periodic system audits of its partners to prevent data leakages.

She also warned that only software explicitly certified by NIMC will be allowed within the national identity ecosystem, adding that any unauthorized integrations pose a direct risk to public trust.

Custodians of National Security

Underscoring the technical importance of data integrity, Suleiman Falade, NIMC’s Head of IT and Identity Data Department, reminded partners that they serve as the first line of defense for the national database. He warned that duplicate registrations and inaccurate records undermine national security planning and erode public confidence.

Furthermore, Kayode Oni, representing the Office of the National Security Adviser, urged the front-end partners to remain diligent and strictly follow established screening procedures to protect the identity ecosystem from manipulation.

Authorities also reiterated previous warnings to the general public against selling or sharing their NINs with unauthorized individuals, noting that doing so exposes citizens to identity theft and severe legal liabilities.