Man fraudulently tries to renew a permit to secure a job in Eswatini

By Bahle Gama

A Nigerian man’s attempt to secure a job in the country by renewing an expired permit landed him in hot water after he gave false information at the Home Affairs offices.

Itodo Sunday (29) was on January 26 arrested for making a false statement at the Home Affairs offices in Mbabane which he is said to have known was misleading, to obtain a work permit.

He was also charged with being in the country without a valid license or permit and two counts of contravening Section 14 1 (a) and 2 (c) as read with Section 6 (1) (c) of the Immigration Act 17 of 1982.

Appearing before Magistrate Xolile Nxumalo, Sunday pleaded guilty to both charges and told the court that he has children in the country and only wanted to secure a job to cater to them.

“I plead for the court’s leniency. Going back to Nigeria would only upset my children which is why I tried to renew my permit. I am sorry Your Worship,” he said.

Magistrate Nxumalo sentenced Sunday to three months in prison with an option of a fine of E500 for each of the counts and she ordered that the sentences run consecutively.