The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Customs Service (NCS)

  • Customs destroys N83m worth of frozen chicken

    The Comptroller of Customs, Federal Operations Unit, (FOU) Zone C’ Owerri, Controller Amajam Bukar Alhaji, Tuesday supervised the destruction of  4118 cartons of  poultry products with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N83,389,500.

    He warned against the consumption of imported frozen chicken, adding that the chemicals used as preservatives could be harmful to health.

    Narrating how the 1×40 container conveying the contraband was intercepted, during the destruction exercise that was witnessed by other security agencies including the DSS, Police, National Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and officials of the  National Agency for Food Administration (NAFDAC),  Amajam, disclosed that it took the collaboration of the Army and NAFDAC to impound the truck.

    According to him, “we virtually paid to get intelligence on the movement of the consignment after we learnt that they were loading the truck at Ore. We kept our surveillance until the truck entered into Owerri and when they noticed that they were being followed, they drove to the stadium, where they parked the truck and deflated the tires to make it impossible to drive it away. At that point we called the Army and Police for backup before we were able to impound the truck and brought it to our headquarter”.

    Speaking further on the dangers of consuming imported frozen poultry products, the Customs boss, maintained that, “Nigerians do not know the type of chemicals used for the preservation of the chicken. The chemicals are dangerous to health so consuming the products is a serious health hazard that should be avoided”

    In a related development FOU Zone C also impounded Contraband with a DPV of N261 million.

    Amajam while parading the seized items, gave the breakdown as follows,  1591 used tires with Duty Paid Value of N14,378,400,  3889 bags of rice with duty Paid Value of N101,478,000, 380 cartons of soap with duty paid value of N10,093,009, 1x40ft container intercepted along Aba/Eleme containing assorted goods including 6600 pieces of sewing machine, 3080 sewing machine motor, 47 pieces of empty gas cylinder, 19 pieces of gas stove, 9900 packets of measuring tape, 1080 bundles of PVC package, 320 scissors amongst  other items with a DPV of N111,572,300 and one Nissan Almera with DPV of 4,725,000

    Other seizures that’s were still being investigated include, “a container of 1401 rolls of fabric with Duty Paid Value of N14,100,000, a 2016 Toyota Prado Jeep with Duty Paid Value of N25,658,201, 2013 Toyota Prado Jeep with Duty Paid Value of N17,349,647, 2011 Toyota Prado Jeep with Duty Paid Value of N74,250,000, 2010 Mercedes Benz G-Wagon Bullet Proof with Duty Paid Value of N74,250,000, 2008 Mercedes Benz G-Wagon with Duty Paid Value of N18,528,750 and 2016 Range Rover with duty paid value of N28,049,645”.

    The Customs boss, explained that the commodities seized  contravened of the law with some of the infractions bordering on false declarations and deliberate attempts to evade duty payment.

    He said,  “we cannot ease business if there is fraudulent declaration. In an honest society where honest declaration is done then the ease of doing business will be achieved.”

    Amajam described d wrong classification to evade duty payments as acts of smuggling, urging importers and agents not to desist from cutting corners and ensure proper classification of their goods and commodities.

    “Be law abiding. Always follow the legal provisions for any imports and exports. Classify appropriately and do the right thing at all times,” he charged.

    Comptroller Amajam who declared a zero tolerance for smuggling said he would in addition to anti-smuggling activities engage the media to raise awareness of the dangers and negative impacts of smuggling. He decried the vice saying that it has led to loss of jobs, increase in criminal activity and attendant insecurity.

    According to him, “FOU Zone ‘C’ Owerri is committed to enforcing government policy and we can do this through your help raising awareness and educate the public about the dangers of smuggling,” he told the press. “Not only does smuggling damage our economy, some of the smuggled goods threaten the health and safety of our citizens”.

    He restated that the command under his watch will intensify its anti-smuggling operations to sustain the mandate of FOU and bring smuggling to its barest minimum.

    Amajam explained that those that buy rice for subsistence in the open market have no case with the Service. He urged them to check on the authentic website or make enquiries at the nearest customs formation for any clarifications on trade restrictions and provisions.

    He called on the public to report any suspected activity of smuggling and volunteer any information that will be of benefit to anti-smuggling activities adding that such information will be treated with discretion.

     

     

  • Police arrest four Customs impersonators for fraud

    Police arrest four Customs impersonators for fraud

    Three students of Ambrose Ali University (AAU), Ekpoma and Auchi Polytechnic both in Edo State and a 21-year-old man have been arrested by the police for alleged impersonation of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and swindling of social media users.

    Proposer Oricha, 19, of Business Administration Department, 21-year-old Samuel Taye, 400 level, Ordinary National Diploma (OND) Electrical Engineering student, Shaka Sumaila and Sunday Aliyu were arrested by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police’ (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT) at Ekpoma.

    According to the police, the suspects, who usually posed as Customs officers on Facebook and other social media platforms, defrauded Nigerians several millions of naira in the guise of selling auction vehicles.

    It was gathered that their arrests followed series of complaints to the office of the IGP Ibrahim Idris on their activities.

    Two IRT teams and operatives of the Tactical Intelligence Unit (TIU) were said to have been deployed to Edo State after several days of analysing on ground intelligence.

    The police said the suspects confessed to the crime and explained their modus operandi.

    Recovered from the suspects’ mobile phones and laptops were pictures of genuine Customs officers, account numbers they used and correspondence between them and their victims.

    In his confessional statement, Aliyu said he has sold five cars. I received N50,000 for Toyota Camry, 150,000 for Toyota Corrolla, N35,000 for Gulf, N50,000 for Toyota Venza and N100,000 for the fifth car but I can’t remember the make.

    The Customs is not aware I am doing this. We use accounts given to us by Samuel Taye.

     

  • ‘Sokoto command of the NCS nets over N2.3 billion between 2016 to 2017’

    Mr Sani Madugu, Area Contoller of the Sokoto command of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) on Monday officially handed over to his successor, Mr Nasiru Ahmed with a disclosure of the net sum of N2.09 billion as revenue generated during its operations for the year 2016.

    Accordingly, over N314 million was realised as revenue between the months of January ‎and March, 2017.

    The ‎amounts recorded were accruals from seizures, forfeitures and other operational aspects carried out within the periods.

    The command comprises of the three states of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara.

    Making the disclosure at a brief ceremony, Madugu‎ said the command had surpassed its target of N1.7bn, describing the break-through as a success to the entire command and service.

    According to him “we have improved on our revenue generation drive strategy”, he added.

    Madugu who has been deployed to Ogun state further explained that under his headship, the command has experienced‎ some positive changes that translated to physical transformation of structures with befitting adjourning services with the little resources allocated by the headquarters.

    “We have put in place a befitting conference hall with basic facilities, secured titltes (C of O) for our landed properties including officers Mess and residential buildings (barracks).

    According to Madugu, “I am handing over a good and sound NCS Area command to my successor”, he said.

    Taking over, the new Area Controller, Mr Nasiru Ahmed who hails from Niger state said he would do everything within his mandate in tackling the issue of smuggling and bring it to the barest minimum.

    He also assured of exploring more ways and areas of generating and improving the command’s revenue base.

    “We will work harder to brace the revenue of the command to bar‎”, he maintained.

     

  • Senate opens probe of N298m SUV car purchase

    Senate opens probe of N298m SUV car purchase

    • ABU VC clears Melaye of certificate forgery

    The Senate Monday commenced an investigation into the allegation of purchase of N298 million Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) with fake customs papers levelled against Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

    The high-profile probe is coming as Saraki said that the upper chamber was being tackled by unnamed persons for resolving to order the reversal of the controversial policy of retrospective duty payment on vehicles introduced by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).

    The Senate President spoke when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, probing the alleged importation of N298 million bulletproof Ranger Rover SUV.

    The Senator Samuel Anyanwu led committee also questions Senator Dino Melaye over the allegation that he did not graduate from Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU) Zaria.

    Saraki’s appearance before the Ethics Committee marked the first time since the return to democracy in 1999, that a sitting Senate President will appear before Ethics committee to clear his name.

    The Senate had on March 21st referred the two issues to its Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions Committee for investigation.

    This followed a point of order motion raised by Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, (Borno South) that the issue is investigated to protect the integrity of the Senate.

    Ndume relied on some publications to draw the attention of the Senate to the damning allegations against Saraki and Melaye.

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, promptly referred the issues to the Ethics committee to investigate and report back within four weeks.

    Apart from Anyanwu, other members of the committee at the investigative hearing included Senators Mao Ohuabunwa, (Abia North), Bala Ibn Na’Allah (Kebbi South) who excused himself from Saraki’s probe but participated in Melaye’s investigation, Tayo Alasoadura (Ondo Central), Peter Nwaoboshi (Delta North), Mathew Urhghide (Edo South) and Albert Akpan who said he is a friend to Melaye.

    Before Saraki began his testimony, Chairman of the committee explained to him why he was invited by the committee.

    Anyanwu specifically asked Saraki whether he (Saraki) is an importer, whether he imported any vehicle in the name of Abubakar Bukola Saraki if it is true that he imported SUV Range Rover that was clear with fake customs papers.

    Saraki was also asked whether the SUV was cleared in his name or on his behalf and whether he asked anybody to clear the SUV on his behalf.

    The Senate President began his testimony with a warning those fighting the National Assembly should desist from the act in the interest of democracy.

    He insisted that democracy cannot thrive if institutions of government are deliberately weakened and ridiculed.

    Saraki said, “I use this opportunity to commend the good work that you are doing and your effort and contribution to building the institution of the Senate that we all have sworn to defend and we are all here to do that.

    “Part of my being here in person is all part of my belief that what you are doing here is to strengthen our institution.

    “I said I want to come here personally, subject myself to this process because I think we must continue to build this institution and this is part of the process of building this institution.

    “Most of the questions come to a basic issue.

    “I am not an importer and at no point did I import an SUV Range Rover. As you know this is a vehicle that is not a “personal vehicle. It is a vehicle which was processed through the National Assembly.

    “I don’t know anything about the importation; I did not appoint any clearing agent or anything like that.

    “Most of the vehicles that are here you only know when it is delivered to you. None of this did I import or getting any agent or going to the port.

    “This is not true, those that said it know it is not true, Customs knows it is not true because we all know that all treated vehicles have end user certificate and it states clearly who the importer is and these documents are available and there is no document anywhere that shows my name.

    “So I want to state categorically that this is not true and it is important that I come here and clear my name and put this matter to rest.

    “We all raised the issue of the policy that is anti-people in the interest of Nigerians. This policy that really had no value at all and that was why this motion came up and we debated it in the interest of Nigerians, but unfortunately those who want to fight back went and thought there was something to blackmail us with.

    “But I believe that the issue at hand regarding this issue as I said categorically I am not an importer and I know the documents you have will show clearly that it has nothing to do with me.

    “I believe that this process is good for us. It will further strengthen our institution. It is a great day for our democracy for me to come before you as the president of the Senate.

    “We must protect this institution. As members, we will come and go but we must protect this institution.

    “To ridicule an institution of this magnitude is not something we should take lightly and that is why I have taken the time to be here.

    “Today it is me but tomorrow it will be another person. I think it is part of the sacrifice we are making in the work that we are doing that we have these kinds of cases that did not hold water.

    “We must protect this institution because this is the only thing we can leave. The difference between military rule and democracy is the parliament. For as long as the parliament is weak, our democracy can never be strong.

    “That is why I told myself that I must come here no matter how ridiculous I felt it was because the documents are clear. There is nowhere it said I imported it, it is not my private vehicle.”

    On the importer of the car, Tokunbo Akindle, Chairman of the Committee Anyanwu told him that the allegation was that he imported an SUV and did not pay the import duties and that was the reason the Senate is having an issue with the Nigerian Customs.

    Tokunbo Akindele responded: In 2015 on behalf of the firm that I work for, Oando PLC, we imported a Range Rover Bullet Proof SUV vehicle.

    “We imported it as the company that needed to use it for the various operations that we have around the country.

    “The car took longer than was expected and by the time it reached Nigeria in 2015, September, we decided that we will no longer be using the car, so we effectively packed it.

    “Initially because we are not going to use it for any operations whatsoever because we already met the requirements needed.

    “The process of acquiring the car we mandated a company offshore, to buy the car, armour the car, ship the car, clear the car with Customs and just deliver the car to us as a full-fledged service.

    “We received the car in September 2015 assuming that all of these things are done, all payments were made for the acquisition, the armouring, the shipping as well as the clearing of which we have necessary evidence.

    “The car was not imported for the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki.

    “In the process of clearing the car, we did not receive any documentation from the National Assembly.

    “We were not a part of clearing the car, we were the customer, we were expected to receive the car for our own use.

    “The vehicle was not to be used by Sen. Bukola Saraki, it was not imported or acquired for his use at the time the vehicle came into the country.

    “The National Assembly took receipt of the car through a consignment from us, through Lanre Shittu Motors in December 2015.

    “The car had been in the country for two months and had been sitting with no use and it was at that point that we released it to Lanre Shittu on consignment who sold it to the National Assembly.

    “At no point did we submit any fake document for the clearing of the car. We followed all due process in terms of payment to the company which handled the entire process for us.”

    Also speaking, the car dealer, Olarenwaju Shittu, told the committee that they facilitated the sale of the car to the National Assembly.

    He said that there was never a time they sold the car to Saraki.

    “It was when the car was intercepted sometime in 2017 that it was brought to my knowledge and we contacted Oando who gave us the papers that they said was fake,” Shittu said.

     

  • Journalist gets leave to call oral evidence in suit against Customs

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday allowed oral evidence in a suit filed by a journalist, Mr. Otunba Olomofe, against The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) for infringing on his fundamental human rights.

    The Lagos branch of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) had filed the suit on behalf of the Baghdad-based journalist seeking the enforcement of his fundamental human rights to life, freedom of expression and the press.

    The Comptroller-General of Customs, retired Col. Ibrahim Alli, Muhammed Ndalati, Emmanuel Nkemdirim, and Ibrahim Turaki were joined as respondents in the suit.

    Two adjournments away, the counsel to the plaintiff, Mr. Jiti Ogunye, had informed the court of his application, seeking to introduce oral evidence to the suit.

    Justice Abdulaziz Anka had then adjourned the case for ruling on the application, while he also allowed time for the defence to regularize its processes before the court.

    In a short ruling on Wednesday, Justice Anka held that the applicant could introduce oral evidence to proof its case.

    The judge, however, declined the applicant’s motion to file further affidavit evidence in the suit.

    Anka accordingly, fixed April 24, for the continuation of hearing.

    The applicant had filed the suit, following alleged severe assault and beatings he suffered in the hands of Customs’ officers and some hoodlums allegedly hired by them.

    The suit which was filed in January 2016, had been fixed for mention on Feb. 22, March 17, and June 16, 2016 but had suffered some setbacks.

    On June 16, 2016 after the case was called, the counsel to respondents had informed the court that the applicant was absent, and had urged it to strike out the suit.

    Consequently, Anka struck out the suit.

    Meanwhile, on June 17, 2016, the counsel to the applicant, re-filed the suit and served processes including his application to re-list the suit, on the respondents.

    In the pending action, the applicant is claiming N500 million as damages against the NCS for the assault he suffered at Seme border post of the NCS on June 25, 2015.

    Olomofe is also asking the court to declare that the respondents, in beating and causing him internal injuries, infringed on his right to life “as guaranteed by Section 33 (1) of the 1999 Constitution.”

    He also asked the court to declare “that the assault done to him in the course of discharging his professional duties and obligations, constituted an infringement on his rights to freedom of expression and the press.’’

    He sought the court to award him N500 million as damages for the infringement on his rights.

     

  • Reps to Buhari: Suspend ban on importation of cars through land borders 

    Reps to Buhari: Suspend ban on importation of cars through land borders 

    President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged by the House of Representatives to suspend the ban on importation of new and used cars through land borders.

    The ban that was announced on  December 5, 2016 by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) was due to take off from January 1, 2017.

    The lawmakers however said the policy was too harsh as it is bound to pile more economic miseries on the majority of Nigerians that are already groaning under the prevailing economic recession.

    The decision of the lawmakers followed the adoption of a motion by Abdulahi Salame (APC, Sokoto) who noted that the percentage of Nigerians who can afford cars has declined drastically following the decline in the value of naira, inflation, unemployment and high cost of living that has bedeviled Nigeria where over 80 percent of the population live below $200 a day.

    Salame noted that, “With its powers under Section 18 of the Customs and Excise Management Act, the government can restrict the movement of goods into and out of Nigeria by land or inland waters and to appoint customs stations, but similar exercise of such powers on rice importation through the land borders in April 2016, has led to untold hardships on Nigerians as a bag of rice now sells for between N20, 000 and N23,000  as against N8,000 few months ago.

    “We are also aware that the government has not put in place alternative measures to ensure that Nigerians will have access to cars since it is cheaper to buy cars from neighbouring countries and still generate revenue by ensuring that our borders are secured to prevent smuggling and also that there will not be job losses.

    “Meanwhile, some of those making these policies have failed to patronize made-in-Nigeria goods, especially Nigerian assembled vehicles which are, in any case unaffordable to over 80 percent of Nigerians who can only afford fairly used imported cars.

    “It is of concern that despite the pitiable state of most Nigerians occasioned by unemployment, lack of funds for survival and high cost of living which has sent many to their early graves, the government is adopting a policy that will further increase the sufferings of the masses at this critical time the country is in recession.

    “It is equally worrisome that the ban will cause more harm than good as it will certainly lead to increase in smuggling, deprive poor Nigerians of access to acquiring vehicles, skyrocket the price of cars cleared at the wharf, increase inflation and further mount pressure on the already weak naira and lead to idleness, insecurity and criminality at the border points”.

    Lawmakers that spoke in favour of the motion noted that it is the masses that would be affected more by the new policy.

    According to them, the reason put forward about payment of duties was not enough to punish the entire country because non-payment of duties was carried out with the active connivance of security officials at the borders.

    The lawmakers also argued that the ban was against the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Protocols on movement of goods and services.

    The lawmakers said to implement the policy at a period of recession amount to Nigerians paying for the irresponsibility of agencies that should collect port duties on imported cars.

    The lawmakers that supported the policy however noted that most policies of the administration of President Buhari were aimed at correcting fundamental and structural anomalies inherent in the system.

    While they regretted that policies of this administration were often misunderstood and attacked, the antagonists of the bill recalled that three decades ago, Nigeria was the hub of economic activities in the sub-region, an advantage that has now been eroded due to reckless importation of unnecessary goods and services.

    According to the lawmakers, this has reflected in job loss, with Nigeria not only becoming a dumping ground but also losing its technological development potentials to her neighbours.

    They noted that as long as the government refused to do what it supposed to do by taking hard decisions, the country will remain on the path that has taken Nigeria nowhere so far.

    As part of their resolution, the lawmakers urged the Federal government to ensure that the law enforcement agencies, especially those working at the borders, are diligent in their duties by ensuring that import charges through the land borders are paid when due and remitted to the government.

    The House also urged the Federal government to install border security and surveillance equipment for effective monitoring to address the recurring menace of smuggling and ensure a maximum revenue generation on all lawfully imported goods.

    The lawmakers equally urged the Federal government to expand its plan on youths empowerment programs by developing skills acquisition centers in border areas so as to enable the youth to acquire skills necessary for the type of businesses that are being carried out in the border areas and also employ more people from those areas into the border security agencies as they have relevant experiences on how goods are being moved in and out of the country.

    Committees on Governmental Affairs and Customs and Excise were mandated to ensure implementation of the resolutions and report back within six weeks for further legislative action.

    The motion was unanimously adopted after it was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.

  • Customs impound 31 containers of rice at Lagos port

    Customs impound 31 containers of rice at Lagos port

    The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has impounded 31 containers of rice that was illegally imported into the country.

    The items, which the market value was yet to be determined, were seized Friday, at the Tin-Can Island Container Terminal (TICT), Lagos.

    Addressing reporters at the venue of the seizure in Lagos Friday, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Col Hameed Ali who was represented by a Deputy Comptroller-General ( DCG) Dan Ugo said the items were shipped into the from China.

    The importer, he said, wanted to shortchange the government by declaring the items as yeast in his bill of laden.

    Yeast importation, Ali said, attracts five per cent duty, while rice attracts 110 per cent duty and 60 per cent levy.

    For falsifying his document and wanted to cheat the government, the Comptroller-General has therefore, declared that over 40, 000 bags of rice inside the containers as outright seizure without any option of payment  for the importer.

    The measure, he said, was applied to serve as deterrent to other scrupulous importers operating at the nation’s sea ports and border stations.

    Investigation by The Nation revealed that some  of the container number in which the  rice were shipped into the country through the MAERSK LINE include the following: MSKU: 410819 (6) 22 G1, MSKU: 711125 (4) 22 G1, PONU: 033850 (2) 22 G1, MSKU: 339624 (6) 22 G1, MSKU: 753283 (9) 22 G1, PONU: 205422 (8) 22 G1,  MRKU: 857850 (8) 22 G1, PONU:000208 (2) 22 G1, MSKU: 763801 (3) 22 G1, MSKU: 365294 (4) 22 G1, GATU: 054746 (6) 22 G1, MRKU: 715521 (9) 22 G1, MSKU: 741347 (0) 22G1, PONU: 044185(0) 22 G1, CLHU: 30353322 (7) G1, ZIMU: 129944 (6) 22 G1, MRKU: 731946 (2) 22 G1, MSKU: 788942 (5) 22 G1, MRKU: 654641 (4) 22 G1, MSKU: 521748 (4) 22 G1, MSKU: 405022 (1) 22G1, MSKU: 206425 (2) 22 G1, MRKU: 729473 (9) 22 G1, MRKU: 986083 (5) 22 G1, MRKU: 681160 (5) 22 G1, MAEU: 679395 (3) 22 G1, MRSU: 026634 (2) 22 G1,  PONU: 01906722 G1, MRKU:777063 (0) 22G1 and MRSU: 015690 (0) 22G1

    He said that the rice laden containers were ferried by Maersk Line vessel to Tincan Island Container Terminal (TICT) at the port.

    He bemoaned the situation where the importer deliberately made false declaration in a bid to evade duty.

    The CGC retracted that the era false declaration and debit note was over; saying importers with false declaration of imports would be punished by the government.

    “We have told clearing agents and importers to do genuine declaration. We are all talking of trade facilitation at port and some importers are busy abusing the system,” he said.