THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) said it has taken into custody a Nigerian national who was arrested and detained more than 2 years ago for involvement engaging in credit card fraud and cyber-crime activities.

In a report to Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente, the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) identified the Nigerian as 26-year-old Emmanuel Obi Nwadkure, who was apprehended Wednesday at the Hall of Justice Bldg. in Muntinlupa City.

The arresting FSU operatives were armed with a mission order from Morente which they served to the Nigerian while attending the hearing of his case at the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court.

BI-FSU acting chief Rendel Ryan Sy said the BI had to take custody of the Nigerian to ensure that he does not hide nor evade prosecution while the criminal case against is being heard by the court.

Sy disclosed that the alien was earlier allowed to post bail by the court, thus he was released from the custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

He explained that under existing rules, foreigners with pending criminal cases who are released on bail are supposed to be transferred to the BI as subjects of deportation proceedings.

It was learned, however, that Nwadkure remains on the immigration hold departure list as the hold departure order issued against him by the court has not been lifted.

Records show that the Nigerian, who is an overstaying alien, was arrested on Sept. 8, 2020 by agents of the anti-cybercrime unit of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for violating Republic Act 8484 or the Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998. He is now detained at the BI warden facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Jun I. Legaspi