Nigerian national remanded for forged immigration documents

– faces possible deportation

A Nigerian national accused of using fraudulent immigration documents in an attempt to extend his stay in Guyana, was remanded to prison on Friday after appearing before Magistrate Annette Singh at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
Thirty-one-year-old Arinze Reginald Odunze was charged with Uttering a Forged Document and Conspiracy to Commit a Felony, after he allegedly presented a forged Ministry of Home Affairs Work Permit/Extension of Stay Letter at the Central Immigration and Passport Office. He pleaded not guilty to the charges, but the Magistrate denied bail, citing his illegal status in the country.
Odunze was arrested on March 19 at the Central Immigration and Passport Office on Camp Street, Georgetown after he presented a Ministry of Home Affairs Work Permit/Extension of Stay Letter to a constable, along with his Nigerian passport, seeking an extension. Upon verification, the document was found to be fraudulent. Immigration officials immediately reported the matter, leading to his arrest and subsequent charges.

According to immigration records, Odunze arrived in Guyana on November 25, 2024, on Copa Airlines Flight CM190. Upon arrival at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), he presented his Nigerian passport along with what appeared to be a Ministry of Home Affairs Employment Visa on Arrival Letter to a Sergeant. He was granted entry and landed for three months, a period which expired on February 24, 2025. However, authorities later discovered that the initial document he used to gain entry was also forged.
During today’s court proceedings, Odunze was represented by an attorney who argued that his client was unaware that the documents he used were not authentic. The lawyer stated that Odunze, who has been working in Guyana as a security officer for the past four months and residing at 29 Industry Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD), had been under the impression that his paperwork was legitimate.
According to the defence, his employer was responsible for handling his documentation, and Odunze only realised there was an issue when he attempted to renew his stay. The attorney requested reasonable bail with reporting conditions, emphasising that Odunze was not a criminal but had unknowingly been misled.
The prosecution, however, objected to bail, arguing that Odunze was in the country illegally, having already overstayed his permitted time. They also noted that he was facing additional charges at the Diamond Magistrate’s Court, though they did not disclose the specifics. Prosecutors further stated that there was an ongoing process to seek his deportation.
Magistrate Singh refused bail, explaining that she could not grant release to someone who was illegally in the country. She stated that if the prosecution was pursuing deportation, they should proceed with the necessary application, rather than having him on bail.
As a result, Odunze was remanded to prison until his next court appearance on April 11. His possible deportation is expected to be determined in the coming weeks.