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Tag: impound

  • Customs impound two Helicopters brought in by unknown importer

    Customs impound two Helicopters brought in by unknown importer

    The Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command of Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has seized two civil models Bell Helicopters brought into the country by unknown importers.

    The Service immediately handed over the helicopters to the Nigerian Air Force for use in the fight against insurgency.

    The NCS accused the importers of the said items of failure to produce the end user certificate from the office of the National Security Adviser ( NSA), thus contravening Section 36 (2) of the Customs and Excise Management Act.

    Addressing newsmen at the command’s office at the Lagos Airport yesterday, the Customs Area Controller, Frank Allanah, said the duty value of the two helicopters and other accessories was about N9,757,135,240.86.

    He said the helicopters were  flown into the country as a consignment with Airway Bill Number 17232444403 through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

    The choppers, he said, were detained at the Skyways Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) shed, pending the fulfillment of all the legal requirements for the importation .

    He said upon examination, the consignment was found to contain two civil models 412 EP of serial numbers 36608 and 36606 Bell Helicopters respectively in standard configuration and 23 packages said to contain their accessories weighing 11,075 kilogrammes.

    Ugo said: “The unknown importer could not produce end user certificate from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA); an act which contravenes section 36 sub section 2 of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) laws of the federation of Nigeria  2004.

    “Consequently, seizure was effected on November 7, 2016 in line with section 46 of CEMA.”

    Giving further insight into the seized choppers, he said all legal issues were considered before the Customs Authorities carried out the exercise.

    He said the chopper will be useful to the Nigerian Air Force in the fight against insurgency as the chopper were specially designed for such operations.

    Speaking during the handover of the choppers, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, said the two Bell choppers and accessories would be taken to the Nigerian Air Force hangar at the Lagos Airport for full examination in collaboration with Customs officials.

    He described the handover as a milestone, because the configuration of the aircraft is fitted for military combat operations.

    He said the presidential approval for the release of the two helicopters to the Nigerian Air Force would help to fight the war against insurgency and internal security engagement.

    Investigations however revealed that the two Bell Helicopters were imported by a state government in the South South in the twilight of a former administration in the state.

    But industry sources hinted that the transactions might not have been documented, forcing the current administration in the state to concede that the choppers be handed over to the Nigerian Air Force.

    In a telephone interview, an official of SAHCOL said he could not confirm if the choppers were imported by a state government.

    He said Customs reserves the right to seize any aircraft or imported item if the importer fails to show up for clearance and payment of necessary duty.

    Ugo also disclosed yesterday that revenue totaling N55,505,499,945.35 was collected from January to December 2016 by “a highly dedicated work force” of the Customs Airport Command, surpassing the collection of 2015 which stood at N24,746,642,881.3 billion.

    The increase in revenue collection, he said, is N12.8 billion above the previous year despite decline in cargo from 76.9 million tons in 2015 to 64.63 million tons in 2016.

    The command, he said, made several seizures of elephant tusks, foreign currencies and other items.

  • Easter: FRSC impounds 70 vehicles in Zamfara

    Easter: FRSC impounds 70 vehicles in Zamfara

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Zamfara has impounded 70 road vehicles during the Easter patrol from March 24 to March 28.

    The Sector Commander, Mr Amos Thliza, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gusau on Tuesday.

    Thliza said that the Easter celebration was calm as there was no accident recorded except for some traffic offenders that were arrested.

    He said 109 traffic violators were arrested for 112 offences and from which 70 vehicles were impounded.
    said that the impounded vehicles would be returned to the offenders only when the appropriate fines had been paid.

    The sector commander said 311 officers and men were deployed to ensure free flow of traffic with eight patrol vehicles and an ambulance during the period.

    He advised motorists to exercise patience while driving, saying that they should drive carefully, avoid speeding and follow traffic signs.

  • Customs impound 1, 035 bags of smuggled rice

    Customs impound 1, 035 bags of smuggled rice

    The Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun State Area Command, has impounded about 1,035 bags of smuggled rice from smugglers.

    The bags of rice were intercepted penultimate Sunday at Idogo Community near Ilaro in Yewa South Local Government Area of the state, while 10 vehicles used in smuggling them were also impounded.

    About seven truck-loads of unprocessed wood, allegedly being exported illegally out of the country were also seized penultimate Friday from smugglers from Republic of Benin.

    The unprocessed wood was seized from smugglers at Ijoun community in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State while being taken to Republic of Benin, according to the new Area Controller of Ogun State Area Command, Mr. Multafu Waindo.

    The vehicles used by the smugglers have Republic of Benin’s number plates and have been moved to the Abeokuta headquarters of the Ogun State Customs Command. Controller Waindo said the seizures marked the beginning of tough times for smugglers in the state.

    He said: “On February 5, 2016, our operatives arrested six trailers with number plates: AU3121RB, BA9064RB, AY7203RB, AV4002RB, BA7930RB and a truck with number plate AX3245RB, transporting unprocessed wood.

    “Unprocessed woods are prohibited from being exported out of the country. Only processed ones are allowed to be exported out of the country, and they must have been cut to small sizes. Five persons who were foreign nationals were arrested in connection with the act. They did not understand English; they only spoke French. They are currently being detained while preliminary investigations are ongoing.

    “In another development, on February 7, 2016, while acting on a tip-off, our operatives stormed the Idoko area and arrested 10 vehicles loaded with 1,035 bags of smuggled rice. The vehicles and the bags of smuggled rice were immediately taken to a government warehouse.

    “Despite the fact that some of the fleeing smugglers removed the batteries, tyres and steering wheels from the vehicles, we towed them down to Abeokuta.”

    The Ogun customs boss disclosed that the command had made about 55 seizures including 25 fairly-used vehicles, 1,161 cartons of frozen poultry products, second-hand tyres, cannabis sativa, and other items. He said: “The command has held meetings with stakeholders on the need to shun smuggling. Some have turned a new leaf while others turned deaf ears. I want to tell smugglers to follow the due process by paying the necessary duties on their goods. We are determined more than ever before to stop all illegalities in Ogun State.”

  • Police impound 105 Okada, arrests 98

    Police impound 105 Okada, arrests 98

    The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 98 persons and seized 105 motorcycles for traffic offences.

    The motorcyclists and street traders were arrested during a special operation by a joint task force on enforcement of traffic laws. They were arrested for plying restricted areas and hawking on the highway.

    The operation was carried out on Lagos-Abeokuta expressway, Ikorodu, Agege Motot roads, Orile-Iganmu, Costain, Mile 2, Lagos Island and Oshodi-Apapa expressway.

    The task force comprised operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and Lagos State Task Force on Environment headed by Olatunji Disu, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and Supol Olubokola Abe.

    The operation, the team said, would be continuous to ensure that road users complied with the State Traffic Laws and Regulations.

    The team said preliminary investigations revealed that motorcycles were used to commit robbery and other nefarious activities on the highway.

    “This operation is an in thing to bring sanity to our highway. This will in no small measure prevent in-traffic robbery and criminal attacks on motorists and commuters, which have become a menace to the metropolis,” the team said.

     

  • Wike impounds another Amaechi’s ally’s car

    Wike impounds another Amaechi’s ally’s car

    The Wike Adminis-tration in Rivers State yesterday bared its fangs afresh, seizing in a commando style a car belonging   to the immediate past Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Chief Tony Okocha.

    Security personnel acting on the order of the state government invaded the Rumuigbo, Port Harcourt private residence of Okocha and forcefully took away a Range Rover believed to be his official car.

    Okocha was not in town at the time of the invasion, which came a week after a similar confiscation of a Lexus SUV from the residence of the immediate past Commissioner for Information in the State, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari.

    Okocha described the action of the government as illegal.

    He said by phone from Abuja that the SUV was officially allocated to him by the last administration in the state.

    But he said he was not surprised “at the uncouth action, knowing Wike’s nuances like the back of my hand.”

    He wondered why the tyres of the vehicle were deflated by the government agents, saying: “I was also informed that Wike alleged that I stole the car and he deflated its tyres.

    “I challenge Wike to show a photo proof that the tyres were found deflated. I challenge him to show enough proof that the vehicle was stolen.”

    He said the action was nothing short of “another subterfuge to perpetuate his witch-hunt against selfless and defenceless aides of the former governor of Rivers State”

    Okocha warned that “this seeming introduction of militarism into our democratic experience and the attendant ignominy may well become our bane, if not checked.”

    He added: “As Chief of Staff, Wike performed as transport officer. By the records available at the transport office, Wike was in possession of 13 vehicles of different brands and handed none over to me as his successor, not even the Permanent Secretary of the Government House, Port Harcourt.

    “Even the official residence of the Chief of Staff, where Wike stayed was never handed over, until one year and four months, when he reluctantly vacated, leaving the premises completely bare.

    “In Wike’s defence during his arrest by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), he quoted that N80 million was used to renovate the Chief of Staff’s residence, yet what I inherited was a residence overgrown with weeds and taken over by reptiles. Nobody shouted.”

    The former chief of staff also urged supporters of Amaechi and members of the APC in the state to remain law abiding, peaceful, calm and steadfast in the face of the intimidation by what he called the caretaker administration.