Tag: Thelma Williams

  • Custom, FAAN staff scuffle: NCS begins investigations

    Custom, FAAN staff scuffle: NCS begins investigations

    The Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Command of Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has commenced investigations into the incident involving one of its officers and a staff of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), over clash of right of way near the Palace Gate of the Cargo Terminal.
    The investigation, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Customs Service Airport Command, Thelma Williams said has become imperative  to establish the veracity of the claim by a staff of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), that a  Customs officer attacked him near the Palace Gate over right of way on the Road leading into the Cargo Terminal.
    She said preliminary findings by the Customs has revealed that the Officer was not trying to gain access into the Palace Gate as alleged by the FAAN staff.
    But, the officer had made a turn towards the Hajj Camp axis of the road, when the FAAN staff in company of others blocked his car.
    This is just as she said the Customs Officer was at no time taken to the Airport Police Station over the matter, but, reported the matter officially.
    Williams said it is important to clear the air on the matter because of information being pushed out to the public that the Customs Officer battered the FAAN staff and damaged his car.
    She gave account of the incident: “At no time did our officer try or attempt to access the monument gate as being alleged. Rather the officer in question veered off the road to drop off a friend only to be barricaded by a FAAN staff in the company of four other FAAN workers.
    “He tried to inquire the reason for the barricade and this led to an argument which further culminated into a scuffle.
    “There was never a point that our officer was taken to the Police station as reported in the press. The incident was actually a misunderstanding of right of use of way on the Airport Boulevard.”
  • Currency traffickers arrested at Lagos airport

    The Nigeria Customs  Service operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) ) two persons arrested last week  for attempting to traffic over $271,135 out of the country .

    The public relations officer of the Airport Customs Command, Thelma Williams, gave the names of the two persons as – Mr.  Owolabi Tijani, a staff of Patovillki, a cleaning firm at the airport and one Mr. Uwan Livinus .

    She said the money was handed over to the EFCC for safe keeping.

    Williams said the commission will carry out thorough investigation on the circumstances leading to the crime.

    She said:” At about 11.00hrs on September 3, 2015, one Owolabi  Tijani a staff of Patovilki, cleaning firm was apprehended by FAAN officials while attempting to smuggle $271,135 through “D” wing departure screening point.

    “The said Owolabi after interrogation confirmed to FAAN Officials names of people involved in the crime, including  Mrs. Omo seun (Iya Urobo) and Uwan Livinus.

    “Statements were therefore taken from the suspects and officers who witnessed the process.”

     

  • Customs arrests passenger with $1.9m

    A passenger carrying $1,909,140 allegedly in his luggage was arrested yesterday by the Customs at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

    Customs Airport Command spokesperson Mrs Thelma Williams identified the passenger as Mr Ani Paulinus Onyeka, who came into the country aboard ASKY Airlines flight from Congo Democratic Republic.

    She said the passenger did not declare the cash, which was found after physical examination by Customs personnel at the baggage hall.

    Mrs Williams said: “During the inward clearance of ASKY flight No: KP 041 from Congo Democratic Republic on February 9, 2014 about 12:30hrs, Mr Ani Paulinus Onyeka with Nigeria Passport No A00923933, upon normal routine examination, his luggage was found to contain one million, six hundred and twenty thousand US dollars ($1,620,000USD), carefully concealed.

    “On physical counting of the money, it was discovered to be one million, nine hundred and nine thousand and forty USD ($1,909,140USD) as against the 1,620,000 dollars earlier discovered when the passenger was apprehended. The passenger and the said currency have been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives for further investigation.”

  • Customs Service arrests passenger with $355,685 at airport

    The Murtala Muhammed International Airport command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Thursday arrested an intending China bound passenger at the Lagos Airport with $355,685.

    According to the public relations officer of the Airport  command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mrs Thelma Williams , though the passenger identified as Okonkwo Onyeka Nonso with passport number A03515894 declared the said amount to the customs currency seat officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, but he could not explain the source of the currency.

    Williams explained that after customs officers at the airport physically counted the money, it was discovered to be three hundred and seventeen thousand and three hundred dollars ( $317,300), as against the earlier declaration of $355,685 by the passenger.

    The passenger and the said currency Williams said are still in the custody of the Customs , and will be handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) for further investigation.