6 Customs Officers Who Cleared Prohibited Rifles Whisked To Abuja
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has transferred six of his officers allegedly involved in the clearance of 661 pump action Rifles through Lagos port. Also transferred were Mr. Oscar Okafor 51, who is the importer; Mahmud Hassan 56, clearing agent and Sadique Mustapha 28 who were found accompanying the consignment to its destination.
The officers who are whisked to Abuja include, Abdulahi, I, an assistant superintendent of Customs (ASC), with service number 44483; ACIC Odiba Inah, with service number 133386; Yola Babakiri Ibrahim, a Chief Superintendent of Customs with service number 39009 and three other senior officers whose identity and service numbers are yet to be ascertained.
The three named officers had earlier been declared wanted by the service before they voluntarily surrendered to the service. In an order by the Customs Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Enforcement, Investigation and Inspection, Dan Ugo, he said the officers should be arrested wherever they are seen and taken to the nearest Customs formation.
But, according to the Federal Operations Unit, A Public Relations Officer, Jerry Attah, the officers voluntarily surrendered before they were transferred to Abuja to know their level of culpability.
He said “They were taken to the Headquarters for interrogation to know level of culpability in the clearance of the contraband.
However, a usually authoritative source had informed our correspondent that not all the officers whisked to Abuja may be culpable. The source said that was the reason why they were taken to Abuja for thorough investigation inother to know who is not culpable. The source who spoke on strict anonymity said those who are found culpable will definitely be dismissed and prosecuted by the service.
He however told our correspondent about the stance of the CGC that anyone caught involved in corruption at the port would be dismissed prosecuted and jailed. “You remember when the CGC came in, he told everyone that anyone caught involved in corruption will be dismissed, prosecuted and jailed. I don’t think he has reneged on that vow.
“I think those found culpable will definitely be dismissed and prosecuted by the service,” the source said. Recall that the FOU A Ikeja last week intercepted a Mack truck load of 49 boxes of pump – action rifles allegedly imported from China. the 40ft container was intercepted along Apapa Mile 2 Road by officers of the Federal Operations Unit (A), Ikeja on the 22nd of January 2017.
According to the CGC, the contraband which was imported from China but routed through Turkey enroute Nigeria contained 49 boxes with a total number of 661 pieces of pump action Rifles. He said, “On Sunday 22nd January 2017, the roving team of the NCS Federal Operations Unit while on information patrol intercepted a Mack truck with registration number BDG 265 XG conveying a 1x40ft container with number: PONU/825914/3 along Mile 2 Apapa road.”
“The truck was immediately taken to the premises of FOU A, Ikeja where physical examination revealed 49 boxes containing a total number of 661 pieces of pump action Rifles concealed with steel doors and other merchandise goods.” The CGC however stated than three persons have been arrested in connection to the contraband which was disguised as steel doors.
“These Rifles are under absolute prohibition therefore its importation is illegal. Such deadly contravention of the law is even more unacceptable considering the fragile security situation in some parts of the country.
