Nigerian man arrested in India found to be holding Ghanaian passport

A Nigerian man arrested in India at a railway station on suspicion, told the police he was from Ghana. He had the photocopy of a Ghana passport in his possesion and told police his name was John Ashanti, a resident from Ghana.

But upon further interrogation, he confessed to being a Nigerian. He gave his real name as Akeem Lanre Shonubare, 45 years, according to the Indian Express news source.

The report says police allegedly found fake photocopies of a passport showing he was from Ghana. About 17 bundles of fake US dollars were also seized from him.

“He first told us that he was a resident of Ghana and his name was John Ashanti. The only document he had was a photocopy of a passport and visa stamp. When we searched his luggage, we found a laptop and an I-card of the All India Nigerian Students Association. During interrogation, he revealed that he was a Nigerian and told us his real name. He had photocopied someone else’s passport and attached his photo,” the report quoted R R Shelke, assistant police inspector with the Government Railway Police (GRP) as saying.

The suspect, the report says has been charged under Indian Penal Code Sections 420, 467, 468 and 471 for cheating and forgery and 489 (c) for use of fake currency. He was produced in court which remanded him in police custody until July 20.

By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi