3 Freight Agents Charged To Court For Forging Customs Documents
Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Tin-Can Island, Apapa Command, has charged three clearing agents, before a Lagos Federal High Court, for forging some of its documents, which they allegedly used in illegally to remove two 2X40ft containers from a bonded warehouse.
The three clearing agents charged before the court presided over by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, on a six count-charge are: Emeka Nwosu; Kenneth Okwuma and Basil Nworisa.
The three clearing agents and others now at large, according to the Nigeria Customs, sometimes in December 2023, conspired among themselves and altered, forged, falsified and counterfeited Customs Documents named Single Goods Declaration (SGD), and used same to remove and exit two Containers numbered FCIU 870101\2 and MSCU 676343/7, from Emong Bonded Terminal, Ijora, Lagos.
The cleaning agent offences according marked FHC/L/337c/2024, the prosecutor, Mrs. Kehinde Bode-Ayeni, and sighted by this medium are contrary to Section 516, 2 (c) of the Criminal Code Act Cap C38 laws of federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under the same Section of the Act.
And sections 231(a) 235(c) and 235(d) of the Nigerian Customs Service Act 2023 and punishable under the same Section of the Act.
Meanwhile, the court has fixed July 16, 2024, for the arraignment of the three clearing agents.
Charges against the clearing agents reads: “That you Emeka Nwosu ‘M’, Kenneth Okwuma‘M’ and Basil Nworisa ‘M’ and others (now at large) sometimes in December 2023, at Emong Bonded Terminal, Ijora, Lagos within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspired together to illegally remove 2X40ft Container Numbers FCIU 870101/2 and MSCU 676343/7 without lawful authority and thereby committed an offence Contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act Cap C38 laws of federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under the same Section of the Act.
“That you Emeka Nwosu ‘M’, Kenneth Okwuma ‘M’ and Basil Nworisa ‘M’ and others (now at large) sometimes in December 2023 at Emong Bonded Terminal, ljora, Lagos within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did altered Custom Documents to wit: Single Goods Declaration (SGD) of 2X40ft Container Numbers FCIU 870101\2 and MSCU 676343/7, with intent that it will be used and acted upon as genuine by the Customs Officer and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 2 (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17, Laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under the same section of the same Act
“That you Emeka Nwosu ‘M’, Kenneth Okwuma ‘M’ and Basil Nworisa ‘M’ and others (now at large) sometimes in December 2023 at Emong Bonded Terminal, ljora, Lagos within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did with intent to defraud uses Falsified Customs documents to exit 2X40ft Container Numbers FCIU 870101/2 and MSCU 676343/7, a representation which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence Contrary to Section 231(a) of the Nigerian Customs Service Act 2023 and punishable under the same Section of the Act.
“That you Emeka Nwosu ‘M’, Kenneth Okwuma‘M’ and Basil Nworisa ‘M’ and others (now at large) sometimes in December 2023 at Emong Bonded Terminal, Ijora, Lagos within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did with intent to defraud received counterfeit documents in respect of 2X40ft Container Numbers FCIU 870101/2 and MSCU 676343/7, a representation which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offense Contrary to Section 231(b) of the Nigerian Customs Service Act 2023 and punishable under the same Section of the Act.
“That you Emeka Nwosu ‘M’, Kenneth Okwuma ‘M’ and Basil Nworisa ‘M’ and others (now at large) sometimes in December 2023 at Emong Bonded Terminal, ljora, Lagos within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did illegally remove 2X40ft Container Numbers FCIU 70101/2 and MSCU 676343/7 without lawful authority and thereby committed an offense Contrary to Section 235(c) of the Nigerian Customs Service Act 2023 and punishable under the same Section of the Act.”
“That you Emeka Nwosu ‘m’, Kenneth Okwuma, ‘M’ and Basil Nworisa ‘M’ and others (now at large) sometimes in December 2023 at Emong Bonded Terminal, Ijora, Lagos within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did illegally remove 2X40ft Container Numbers FCIU 70101/2 and MSCU 676343/7 without lawful authority and thereby committed an offense Contrary to Section 235(d) of the Nigerian Customs Service Act 2023 and punishable under the same Section of the Act.”
