ARINZE Reginald Odunze, a 31-year-old male Nigerian National, was on Friday remanded to prison after being charged with uttering a forged work permit at the Central Immigration and Passport Office on Camp Street, Georgetown.

Police said that Odunze, who was arrested on March 19, 2025, was charged with uttering a forged Ministry of Home Affairs Work Permit/Extension of Stay Letter, Reference number OVL 1500/2024, to Woman Constable 26739 Juanita De Noberga and conspiracy to commit a felony by purporting to show that the forged document was issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration Support Services.

He appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court before Her Worship Magistrate Annette Singh where the charges were read, and he pleaded not guilty.

He was remanded to prison and the matters adjourned to April 11, 2025, and transferred to Georgetown Magistrate Court #5 for disclosure.

In presenting the facts of the case, the police disclosed that on November 25, 2024, the accused arrived at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport on board Copa Flight #CM190.

He presented himself along with his Nigerian Passport #B01125862 and a photocopy of the Ministry of Home Affairs Employment Visa on Arrival Letter purported to be issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, to Woman Sergeant 20198 Feyola Abrams, and was landed for three months which expired on February 24th, 2025.

Subsequently, it was discovered that the Ministry of Home Affairs Employment Visa on Arrival Letter he presented to Woman Sergeant 20198 Feyola Abrams and on which the stay was granted, was forged.

On March 19, 2025, he presented himself at the Central Immigration and Passport Office to Woman Constable 26739 Juanita De Noberga with a Ministry of Home Affairs Work Permit/Extension of Stay Letter along with his Nigerian passport for the extension to be endorsed in his passport and the letter was discovered to be forged.

A report was made, he was arrested, investigation conducted, hence the charges were instituted.

A charge of uttering the forged letter at Cheddi Jagan International Airport will be filed at the Diamond Magistrate’s Court in the coming week.