The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Mohammed Aliyu

  • Customs seizes bullet proof vehicles, military uniform

    *Arrests 28 suspects

     

    The Nigeria Customs Service ( NCS ), has intercepted nine bullet proof vehicles that were smuggled into the country by some screenshots importers through the land borders and the nation’s sea port, it was learnt.
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    The items, it was gathered, were intercepted by the officers and men of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ , Ikeja between September 4 and third of this month.

    Speaking with reporters in his office on Thursday, its Area Controller, Mohammed Aliyu, said the unit, in less than a month, intercepted some military uniform and various contraband with a duty paid value (DPV) of over N2 billion.

    Twenty eight suspects, Muhammed said, were arrested in connection with the 89 seizures made by the unit within the period under review.

    According to him, the seized items include: 22 exotic vehicles, 11,303 bags of foreign parboiled rice 2,410 cartons of foreign frozen poultry products, 853 jerry cans of vegetable oil, 245 parcels of Indian Hemp, 4x40ft containers of unprocessed wood, 2,017 bales of -used clothing, 283 cartons of fake various pharmaceutical products, among others.

    The 22 vehicles seized by the officers and men of the unit, include Nine bullet proof vehicles, four Lexus Jeep IBXS70 (2016), 3 Land Cruiser Jeeps (2016) and 2 Mercedes Benz G63‘and 8550 (2014/2015 model.

    Other vehicles include one Toyota Rav4 (2015), three Toyota Hilux (2018), two Toyota H1ghlander(2018), one Toyota Prado (2018) one Toyota Land cruiser (2016), one Toyota Corolla, one Toyota Fortuner (2017), one Toyota Sequoia and one Lexu; RX 350, among others.

    The 22 exotic Vehicles, findings revealed, have a ,duty paid value of N1. 1 billion.

    Some of the vehicles, investigation revealed, were intercepted at Ogere and ljebu Ode expressway, while the bullet Proof Vehicles were trailed and evacuated from some private residence in Victoria Island based on credible information.

    Although, the area comptroller did not give the number of uniforms seized, sources closed to the Command alleged that they were about 30 in number.

    Considering the security challenge in the country, the Customs chief said the military uniform could be used by unpatriotic politicians and other criminals to wreak havoc in any part of the country. He noted that unpatriotic elements now dress like solders and urged Nigerians to support the Service in stemming the cycle of criminalities in the country.

  • Court remands varsity students for death of colleague

    A Minna Magistrates’ Court, has remanded three students in prison custody for allegedly beating and detaining their fellow student on suspicion that he stole an HTC handset, valued N32, 000.

    The accused persons are, Jibrin Attahiru and Idris Usman, both of the Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida University, Lapai and one other student, Shehu Abdullahi from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

    The three students were docked on a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide, contrary to Sections 97 and 221 of the Penal Code law.

    The Police Prosecutor, Sgt. John Steven, told the court that one Mohammed Aliyu, the Chief Security Officer of IBB University Lapai, reported the matter at the station on July 24.

    Read Also: Banker arraigned for swindling customers of N13.6m

    Steven quoted the complainant as alleging that on July 23, the accused persons suspected one Mubarak Sanusi, a student of the same institution, to have stolen an HTC handset, valued N32, 000 belonging to one of them.

    He said the accused persons picked up Sanusi and took him to their lodge, where they beat him up and detained him inside the toilet.

    According to him, Sanusi was said to have given up the ghost on the way to the General Hospital, Lapai, the following day.

    When the charge was read to them, they all pleaded not guilty.

    The prosecutor, thereafter, prayed the court for adjournment, as investigation into the matter was still ongoing.

    In her ruling, Magistrate Fati Auna, ordered the accused persons to be remanded in prison and adjourned the matter until Sept. 3.

  • ‘Seme customs command nets N701m in August’

    ‘Seme customs command nets N701m in August’

    The Nigeria Custom Service, Seme Command, said it collected N701million as revenue for the month of August.

    A statement released in Badagry on Monday by the customs command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Selchang Taupyen,  said that the command succeeded in collecting so much by blocking  all revenue leakages at the border.

    “In the month of August, the command generated the sum of N701,018, 536 million as revenue for the Federal Government.

    “The amount was N201, 364,081 million higher than the N499,654, 455 that was generated in July.

    “The command has deployed all strategies and has brought every professional dexterity to the fore in order to boost revenue generation at the border, despite the daunting challenges.

    “From January to date, the revenue figure has been dependent on the volume of importation through this corridor which has been limited by low economic activities in the area.

    “We are determined to generate more revenue as the year draws to a close and we are committed to achieving that,” Taupyen quoted the Comptroller of the command, Mr Mohammed Aliyu, as saying.

    He further said that 48 seizures by custom were made with a duty paid value of N32.8 million.

    He added that the customs seized 100 bags of 50kg fertiliser and 1,840 cartons containing mosquito coil, insecticide, soap, cream, second hand clothing and bags, among others.

    “The command’s anti-smuggling efforts have yielded the desired result in seizures of import prohibitions.

    “The seizures were made through intelligence-sharing among operational officers and most importantly, no casualties were recorded,” the PRO said.

    He advised members of the  public to desist from smuggling and engage in legitimate business.

  • Seme Customs intercepts N54.46m contraband

    Seme Customs intercepts N54.46m contraband

    The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted contraband valued at N54.46 million.

    The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Mohammed Aliyu, made this known on Thursday in a statement issued by Mr Taupyen Selchang, the command’s Public Relations Officer in Lagos.

    Aliyu said that the seized items include: 3,200 bags of rice and 1,000 cartons of frozen poultry products.

    He said that 720 jerry cans of vegetable oil and 57 bales of second-hand clothes were also intercepted by his officers.

    According to him, in recent times, the command engaged in aggressive anti-smuggling operation, thereby tightening the land borders against smuggling activities.

    He said that the command was deploying all necessary tools to ensure that the core mandate of the service (revenue generation, facilitation of legitimate trade and suppression of smuggling) were achieved.

    “This is because actualising the functions of revenue generation and legitimate trade facilitation depend solely on how smuggling activities are aggressively suppressed to the barest minimum.

    “It is against this backdrop that the anti-smuggling unit of the command intensified its operations in order to curb the menace of trans-border crimes (smuggling) and other vices.

    “The ongoing aggressive patrol by the anti-smuggling operation unit of illegal routes and the border posts is yielding tremendous results and has translated into the seizure of numerous items,’’ Aliyu said.

    The comptroller urged importers to comply with the government’s fiscal policies.

    Aliyu said that in order to key into the Presidential mandates (Reform, Restructure and Revenue Generation), smuggling activities has to be confronted headlong in order to prevent revenue leakages.

    “This reality has necessitated the proactive approach of the enforcement unit to ensure smuggling activities are maximally suppressed in order to enhance and boost revenue generation,’’ he said.

    Aliyu said that drastic reduction of economic activities through the corridor had impacted negatively on the revenue profile of the command.

    “The command remains undaunted in ensuring that smuggling is suppressed to the barest minimum,’’ he said.

    Aliyu said that the command would continue to protect the local industries to provide employment opportunities to unemployed youths.

    He advised that the Customs Community Consultative Forum (CCCF) platform to sensitise and advise youths in the host communities to stay away from border vices.

    “The warning became necessary in view of the fact that those caught committing smuggling offences are currently undergoing prosecution in various law courts,’’ the controller said.

  • Court orders release of Akinjide’s passport for medical travel

    Court orders release of Akinjide’s passport for medical travel

    A Federal High Court Lagos, on Wednesday ordered the release of the international passport of a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Olajumoke Akinjide.

    Akinjide is facing charges bordering on N650 million fraud before an Ibadan division of the court.

    She had filed an application through her lawyer, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN) urging the Lagos division of the court to grant a release of her passport for a medical trip overseas.

    Ayorinde, moving the application dated July 12 on Wednesday, said it was based on hospital recommendation, which had referred the accused for a medical check.

    He sought an order of the court for the release of Akinjide’s passport to enable her undertake the foreign medical trip.

    The counsel also prayed the court to grant an order for a release of the passport at anytime when required.

    Ayorinde said that the prosecution was not opposed to the application, as the ex minister was not a flight risk.

    In response, EFCC lawyer, Mr Mohammed Aliyu, confirmed service of the application, and said that the prosecution was not opposed to it.

    Consequently, Justice Chuka Obiozor ordered the release of the international passport of the accused for the trip.

    Obiozor ordered that the duration must not exceed 30 days.

    The judge, however, refused the second leg of the application seeking a release of the passport at any other time when required.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on June 22, arraigned Akinjide and one Chief Olanrewaju Otiti before an Ibadan Federal High Court.

    The ex-minister was accused of conspiring with Otiti to launder a sum of N650 million, which she allegedly collected out of the 115 million dollars allegedly doled out by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezaani Alison-Madueke.

    The EFCC said the act contravened the provisions of Section14, 15 and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering Act, 2012.

    The accused had, however, pleaded not guilty to the 24 counts levelled against them.

  • Court to hear sacked Dangote workers’ suit July 5

    Court to hear sacked Dangote workers’ suit July 5

    The National Industrial Court, Abuja, has fixed July 5, for hearing of a suit filed by Mohammed Aliyu and 21 other disengaged workers’ of Dangote Cement Transport Ltd.

    The aggrieved workers, who were mechanics at the Obajana branch of the company, took the company to court over alleged unlawful dismissal.

    The workers were allegedly dismissed from the company on Sept.6,2015 over an alleged restructuring.

    The workers prayed the court to set aside the dismissal as improper and unlawful.

    The disengaged workers also prayed the court to order the respondent, to pay their entitlements and other benefits.

    The claimants also prayed the court to prevail on the respondent to pay them damages for the alleged unlawful dismissal.

    The judge, Justice Edith Agbakoba, fixed the date to enable one of the claimants’ witnesses testify.

    Earlier, two of the witnesses, Christopher Okamson, and Mohammed Aliyu, had told the court to use their statements on oath as evidence.
    The claimants were represented in court by their counsel, Mr C. Amodu, while the respondent was represented by Mr Noah Abdul.