United States (US) singer Aliaume Damala Badara Akon Thiam, popularly known as ‘Akon’, on Tuesday talked his way through the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and entered Nigeria without a visa.
According to Sahara reporters, The songwriter, who was transiting to the US from Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, missed a connecting flight at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Nigeria. Rather than stay at the Nigeria immigration lounge of the airport, Akon and his crew refused and insisted they would go into the city to lodge in a hotel, an action that is against the immigration laws of the country.
Akon and his crew were claimed to be backed by the US Consulate, and they insisted the rapper would never stay at the immigration lounge where travellers who found themselves in the musician’s situation usually stayed. In a video, which captured how the whole scenario played out, Akon and the US Consulate prevailed on the officials of Nigeria Immigration Service and they were illegally allowed to step outside of the airport, and lodge at Sheraton Hotel.
In a hot discussion, which lasted for about two hours, Akon and his crew were bent on leaving the airport to a hotel but the immigration officers at the airport maintained it couldn't be allowed.
However, when the US consulate interfered in the matter, the immigration officers allowed Akon and his crew leave the airport and stay in a hotel but their passports were withheld. An undertaking was also written to ensure that the artiste and his crew were brought back to the airport. Speaking over the phone, a Delta Line official who was simply identified as Henry was heard telling the US consulate that the artiste could not stay at the airport lounge.
He said, “If they have to leave the airport, we have to hold their passport. I have some of the passes here, some US performers who were transiting from Malabo through my flight but unfortunately, the flight left tonight and we are asking that we take them to a hotel from the US consulate so that we bring them back to the airport tomorrow then your men can have their passports until tomorrow when they can get out of the country.
“The US Consulate confirms that they cannot stay at the airport, they want them to go to a hotel so that tomorrow they can bring them down to the airport.”
In another call, Henry also said that the consulate spoke with the artiste and they were bent on having their passport with them.
“The consulate spoke with the artiste and the team and they are bent on having their passport with them and I’m trying to get them out of here," he said. "The Immigration authority tries to keep their passport because they don’t have Nigerian visa. However, if they want to go to town, I can guarantee them (NIS) that they will bring them back tomorrow.”
Another official at the airport who was involved in the case, Ibrahim Yahaya said that Akon, together with his team, initially agreed to wait at the airport lounge but later decided otherwise, stating that they needed to feel safe with their passport in their custody. After about two hours, the immigration officer accepted, and Akon and his team were seen leaving the airport to lodge in a hotel while their passports were withheld.
From Sahara reporters
Eeennnheenn!!!
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, all the aboki, almajiri and herdsmen are coming in from Katsina State uninterrupted. Shame on idiotic Buhari.
Deleteit happens a lot at the immigration.
DeleteCame into Nigeria before forgetting my nigerian passport and only had the uk one on me, gave money, showed photocopy on my phone and I was allowed in.
I Collected the immigration officers number, I rang him before my departure, told him of my itinerary, on the day of departure he was waiting for me at check in, took me through all protocols I had no problem leaving.
It is nigeria anything is possible, if you are clever!. Rules don’t work here
He should have his Ecowas...passport to get in without visa...Senegal dey ecowas...
ReplyDeleteTrue that
DeleteNot sure about Nigerian immigration laws, but in the UK, you can visit for at least 24hrs without a visa, subject to certain conditions and the discretion of the border police/immigration. Best to get all facts right before turning this into a big issue.
ReplyDeleteFor where? UK border will not allow you to leave Heathrow airport for 5minutes.it may be in the law i'my not sure,but they don't't implement it
DeleteYou are correct 16:58. This is a non issue
DeleteI was given a 24 hrs transit visa while transiting through heathrow airport to the US in 2015, I got a hotel. Except it has changed now.
DeleteAnon 18:28....I live in the UK and I know someone who was allowed in for24hrs without a visa. It's allowed in very exceptional circumstances. Her passport was withheld, she signed an undertaking and her host came forward with his details and proof of address in Glasgow. So yeah, it's possible.
DeletePlease they do only if you're from the SPECIFIED 35 ALLY COUNTRIES.
DeleteElse, you'll be treated like an illegal one.
Akon is Senegalese. He's supposed to wield his original ECOWAS passport.
Waiting for NIS to reply to the issue.
Wow! So Nigeria issues Visas to foreigners!??😂😂😂😂 WOWnderful!!!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I thought Akon is from Senegal and Senegal is part of Ecowas community.
I didn't read the whole story shaa, just the headline incase my comment no match wetin the story dey yarn..kikiki
You must be living under your washing machine to think that Nigeria does not issue out visas
DeleteSky white dumb,so you don't know,smh
DeleteChai, I de shame for this ya comment oh. Abeg softly de talk this one out loud.
DeleteAfter I read your comment, I realised why you do laundry. Please stick to reasoning with your hands inugo? It is well with you.
DeleteBut Akon is a US citizen. I don’t know if Senegal is one of those countries that you’re forced to denounce when getting US citizenship so maybe he doesn’t have a Senegalese passport.
DeleteAlso, Nigeria immigration is a big joke. I came into the country one year and they didn’t even stamp my passport. On my way out, an official noticed I wasn’t stamped in so no proof of when I even came in. He let it go but said to watch out next time and ensure it gets stamped. I was like omg this country shaaaa
Question, can’t one get a visa on arrival now?
DeleteShyla I'll reply you cause you are the only with ID among these cretins. You are mad for not realising the humour in my statement... did you hear me? I said you are mad!!! Infact your father!!!!
DeleteIt's not big deal afterall. Money is good. When I was transiting to Nigeria from dar es salaam thorough Rwanda, I had to wait at Rwanda airport for 13 good hours. It wasn't funny atall. If I had enough money, I would have given them my passport in rwanda airport then lodge at a nearby hotel. I must make this money!
ReplyDeleteHave heard!
ReplyDeleteDo u need a visa to enter a zoo.
ReplyDeleteLooooool the shade
DeleteBest comment.
DeleteHmmmmmmm Na wa ooo, so Nigeria hard to enter like this, thought he is a Senegalese he should get ecowas passport
ReplyDeleteBut their passports were withheld? So why is this an issue?
ReplyDeleteYinmu who are they deceiving,For the news to the public their passports were withheld,but for real they left for the hotel with their passportsite.
DeleteIt's no biggie...
ReplyDeleteStaff of the airline they were travelling with are supposed to handle this if the missed flight was caused by the airline. Check them into a Hotel, then ensure they are picked up in time for them to catch their connecting flight at the earliest possible time. There is no story here jo!
ReplyDeletehahaha. Nigerians have been entering other countries without visa naa, plus overstaying and abusing the visa sef. At least Akon is bringing good things into the economy.
ReplyDeleteNaija sha.. there was a time these foreign artists loved coming to Lagos.. 50 cents, Beyonce, Kim, Rihanna. Now they don't even include Nig or any african country on their tours. That's how bad things are right now.
#You don't have to have it all figured out, to move forward*
ReplyDeleteThey were sure coming from the over the top ostentatious birthday party for Equotorial Guinea numero uno big boy, Theodore Obianguema Jr. That dude can splurge. Dude pays well, he is an international playboy. His family controls the nation's wealth which is too much, small country with so much oil. Is like every house is sitting on an oil rig plus the ones off shore within their territorial waters.
ReplyDeleteI am just thinking of the good money Akon and his crew were paid. Wish some of our artist had that type of a gig, their PR/Marketing personel should work hard and broaden their scope of finding business.