NTF Uncovers Visa Rackettering Group

…As Qatar revokes issued visas of taekwondo impersonators

The Qatar Taekwondo Federation earlier today revoked issued visas of a total of 16 persons who fraudulently obtained the Visas by posing as members of the Nigeria Taekwondo National Team, seemingly scheduled to attend the prestigious 1st Qatar International Taekwondo Opens, a G-1 ranked World Taekwondo Federation sanctioned event, billed to hold at Qatar from 6 – 9 March, 2015.

Coincidentally, some members of the actual Nigeria National Taekwondo Team that won medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games are also billed to compete for Nigeria at the event.

Taekwondo Team to the 2014 Commonwealth Taekwondo Games [L-R: Judith Usifoh, Adaeze Asigbe, Chiamaka Onumonu, Shola Olowookere, Sunday Onofe, Chinazum Nwosu, Jamilu Mohammed, Josephine Esuku, Shola Olushola, Adamu Abubakar Isah, Ebere Blessing Nwakanma and Team Captain & Athlete-Coach, Chika Chukwumerije]. Uche Chukwumerije and Murtala Mohammed are not in the picture

The unscrupulous scheme was revealed as part of an aggressive drive by the International Department of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation [NTF] to tackle visa racketeering through Sports head-on, where the first step of the progressive NTF is a constant check on the websites of international ranked tournaments to see if there are any suspicious names registered as members of the Nigeria Taekwondo Community.

A routine check earlier this week which revealed the registration of 16 persons, not in any way associated with the sport of Taekwondo in Nigeria, set off the alarm bells. Unknown to the perpetrators, the Qatar Taekwondo Federation has an existing relationship with the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation, who immediately contact their Middles Eastern counterparts to check-mate the fraudsters.

The [names, passport number, sex, and place of birth] of 16-persons as noted on their submitted international passports include:

Oyeniyi Ilesanmi [A03328102, Male, Ado-Ekiti]; Idris Adeoye Adelakun [A05860794, Male, Lagos]; Oluyinka Rebecca Adalawo [A03795343, Female, Lagos]; Emeka Henry Oboyo [A06137015, Male, Ndioke], Kelechi Kanu [A04387855, Male, Arochukwu], Akeem Ayodeji Adekola [A03451884, Male, Lagos]; Ghandi Maduka [A04229245, Male, Lagos]; Michael Chukwuma Obianukor [A03577759, Male, Inyi]; Kamarudeen Owolabi Gbagba [A06183327, Male, Ilorin]; Gbenga Ojo Adeyemi [A03517786, Male, Iwaro-Oka; Elvis Mike Erinmwionghae [A02640515, Male, Benin City]; Mariam Damilola Abeeb [A05252613, Female, Lagos]; Rilwan Oluwasegun Wahab [A04824863, Male, Lagos]; Yinka Usman Orimidara [A05245189, Male, Ibadan].

The details of two more names [Irabor Christopher] and [Gabiel Olushola Isokpehi [A05722999, Male] are being expected by the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation within the next 48 hours.

Nigeria Taekwondo Federation uncovers Visa Scam

To disguise the fraud in their application to the Qatar authorities, the impersonators signed off their emails in the name of the current President of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation, George Ashiru, and gave the correct address of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation office located at the National Stadium, Lagos.

However, the false crafted-worded emails used by the perpetrators in their application [george_ashiru_presiden@outloook.com] and [taekwondofednig@yahoo.com], in addition to the false phone number of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation [08092667469] and false fax number of the Nigeria Olympic Committee [234 1 2801302] gave the game away.

In a confirmation email to fraudsters in which the NTF was copied, the Qatar Taekwondo Federation noted:

“Please note that the attached visas are no longer valid, It has been cancelled due to special instructions issued by non-validity of these visas. Accordingly, we would like to inform you not to use these visas and if used by anyone would not be allowed to enter the State of Qatar”

The President of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation had a strong message to this group, and similar group trying to use Sports as an avenue to get Visa.

“The Nigeria Taekwondo Federation is a very active, progressive and well-connected organization that uses the Sport of Taekwondo to positively impact the lives of Nigerians and build career paths for hardworking Nigerian sportsmen and women. Your illegal activities harm the chances and careers of thousands of our upcoming and current Taekwondo practitioners in Nigeria. Stay away from Taekwondo and all Sports Federations”

The development points a bold way for many Sports Federation to tackle this far-reaching problem, in order to safe guard the chances of genuine Sportsmen and women.