TheCable

The Qatar Taekwondo Federation has revoked issued visas of 16 persons who fraudulently obtained the visas by posing as members of the Nigeria taekwondo national team.

The “athletes” were hoping to attend the 1st Qatar International Taekwondo Opens billed to hold in March 6 to 9, 2015.

The scheme was exposed by the international department of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF) in their drive to tackle visa racketeering through sports head-on.

A routine check earlier this week revealed the registration of 16 persons, not in any way associated with the sport of Taekwondo in Nigeria set off the alarm bells.

Unknown to the perpetrators, the NTF has an existing relationship with the Qatar Taekwondo Federation, and they immediately contacted them to check-mate the fraudsters.

To disguise the fraud in their application to the Qatar authorities, the impersonators signed off their emails in the name of the current president of the NTF, George Ashiru, and gave the correct address of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation office located at the National Stadium, Lagos.

However, the false emails used by the perpetrators in their application ([email protected]) and [email protected]), in addition to the false phone number of the NTF (08092667469) and false fax number of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (234 1 2801302) gave them away.

In a confirmation email to the fraudsters in which the NTF was copied, the Qatar Taekwondo Federation said:

“Please note that the attached visas are no longer valid, it has been cancelled due to special instructions issued by non-validity of these visas. Accordingly, we would like to inform you not to use these visas and if used by anyone would not be allowed to enter the State of Qatar.”

Ashiru now has a massage for this group and similar ones trying to use sports as an avenue to get visa.

“The Nigeria Taekwondo Federation is a very active, progressive and well-connected organisation that uses the sport of taekwondo to positively impact the lives of Nigerians and build career paths for hardworking Nigerian sportsmen and women,” he said.

“Your illegal activities harm the chances and careers of thousands of our upcoming and current Taekwondo practitioners in Nigeria. Stay away from Taekwondo and all Sports Federations.”