The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Customs Service

  • ‘Customs service collected over N95b in August’

    ‘Customs service collected over N95b in August’

    The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) in August generated N95,760,763,642.04 which has been documented as the highest in the last 10 months .

    The Public Relations Unit of the NCS made this known on its website on Monday, saying: “Last month, August 2016, the Service recorded the highest revenue in 10 years despite the Forex difficulty, low imports and general economic downturn. The Service generated N95,760,763,642.04, a feat that points to the efficacy of the Comptroller-General’s policy thrust.”

    According to statement, the strong stance of the CGC on issues of Discipline, Integrity and Strict adherence to Customs Codes and Clearance procedures is yielding positive results in the areas of suppression of smuggling and revenue collection.

    The statement reads in part: “Col. Hammed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) on assumption of office as the Comptroller-General of Customs August last year arrived with a three prone Presidential mandate, namely:- Reform, Restructure and Raise revenue.

    “To achieve these, he drew his policy thrust, which harped, on Honesty, Integrity and Transparency as bases for achieving the mandate. Starting from the Headquarters and then to all Customs formations across the Country.

    “Knowing that reform and restructuring are activities within the Nigeria Customs Service, while raising the much needed revenue requires cooperation and Compliance from the part of Stakeholders, the CGC embarked on Stakeholders visitations to secure their buy into the new way of doing business with the Service.

    After one year at the helm of affairs, the Nigeria Customs Service, revenue generation profile has continued to be on the rise.

     

  • Court summons Customs director over suspect’s death

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has summoned the Director, Legal Department of the Nigerian Customs Service, and a lawyer in the department, S. I. Bello, over the sudden death of a suspect, Abubakar Rilwan.

    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, who is sitting as the court’s vacation judge, ordered that the Customs Legal Director and Bello appear before the court on August 4 to explain why they should not be put on trial for contempt for allegedly failing to give Rilwan medical attention as ordered by the court.

    The Nation learnt that Rilwan, who was said to be a staff of Arewa Consultative Forum, was arrested by the Customs operatives over alleged forgery.

    The suspect reportedly claimed that he has connection with the Customs and can influence employment into the agency.

    The Customs arrested Rilwan in June and accused him of forging documents.

    He was arraigned on July 12.

    Observing that the suspect was not looking healthy, the judge suspended proceedings and directed that he should be taken to hospital for treatment.

    Rilwan’s lawyer, Laura Oviawe, told the court on Monday that her client died on July 13 while arrangements were being made to take him to court.

    Oviawe said officials of the Customs called her on July 13 to inform her about the suspect’s death.

     

  • Customs officials kill six in Ogun community

    Residents of Oke Odan in Ogun State have been enveloped by fear after officials of the Nigerian Customs Service (NSC) allegedly killed six people in the area.

    The incident reportedly occurred at about 6:30pm on May 1 at Alakara bus stop, while the officials were pursuing suspected rice smugglers.

    The Nation gathered that the smugglers were chased from Igolo, a border town between Nigeria and Benin Republic inward Sango.

    The officials were said to have fired sporadic gunshots as they chased the suspects, which allegedly caused the death of six innocent people.

    According to an eyewitness, the deceased were three children, a road side mechanic, a panel-beater and another man identified as Ade.

    He accused the officials of aiding rice smugglers to escape justice, calling on the Federal Government to discreetly investigate their activities in the area.

    Condemning the incident, the Coordinator, Yewa Connecting Minds (YCM), Prince Gbenga Ekunola, decried the incessant killings of villagers by Customs officials.

    Ekunola vowed that the community was bent on seeking justice for those who have died because of Customs officials’ recklessness.

    He called on the Comptroller General of Customs to fish out and handover the officials to the police for prosecution, adding that they fired directly at innocent villagers.

    “We have had enough of these wanton killings. We want the Comptroller to hand over the killers to the police to investigate the matter.

    “Yewa Connecting Minds (YCM) condemns the desperate attempt to exonerate the real culprits behind the killing in the area. The development is alarming and criminally intended to shield the officials of Customs who committed the atrocities from justice.

    “I am appealing to our people go about their legitimate businesses without fear of disruption from any quarters. I also call on our members to remain calm in the face of provocation. We have confidence in the government and justice shall be done,” he said.