The Anti-Corruption and Transparency Monitoring Unit (ACTU) of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has begun investigating Deputy Comptroller (DC) Saidu Aliu, the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) Project Manager of the Nigeria Customs Service in Tin Can Island Port (TCIP) and Assistant Comptroller (AC) Zarma for alleged corruption.
NAGAFF’s anti-corrupt arm has set-up a three-man panel of reliable freight agents operating in Tin Can to investigate DC Saidu and AC Zarmar and report back to the headquarters of NAGAFF on their alleged misconduct for the past three years. This is as a result of incessant complaints from members of NAGAFF on the alleged systemic corruption of the named Customs officers at the TCIP.
The anti-corrupt body is to investigate alleged unprofessional conducts which have enabled the named Custom officers to siphon over N20 million as non-receipted collections daily. This is said to be achieved via abuse and manipulation of local alert rules and extortion, stoppage of exited containers at the gates, bench marking of value questions in Customs operation and alleged faking of officers’ passwords.
The NAGAFF ACTU has been given three weeks to submit the reports on their findings which would also ascertain if DC Saidu Aliu and his Utility Officer have stayed more than three years at TCIP and equally investigate assets declaration conformity of the Officers.
All NAGAFF members and freight agents who may have been extorted have been urged to come forward with documentary evidences for investigation as NAGAFF seeks to ensure it supports the new Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) Col. Hammed Ali (Rtd) to actualize the presidential mandate of curtailing corruption.
This was revealed in a press release signed by the NAGAFF’s National Chairman ACTU Mr. Increase Uche, even as NAGAFF stressed that its view on the fight against corruption was that it shouldn’t be left for President Buhari alone, but for the entire Nigerians to join hands in the crusade.
By Kenneth Jukpor
