Wields Big Sticks On 23 Officers
The Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Abdullahi Dikko Inde has said that the Nigeria Customs Service is set to go after officers mounting illegal road blocks even as it has sanctioned 23 officers of the service over various offences.
According to the release sent to MMS Plus Weekly and signed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the service, Wale Adeniyi, 12 of the officers were suspended from the service after being found culpable by the investigative panel set up by the service helms man.
The release said, “The Comptroller General said the Service will go after Officers operating illegal check points. He acknowledged persistent complaint he has received on some route particularly around Kogi, Ondo and Edo States. He assured Motorist that special units of his office will conduct special surveillance operation to apprehend the culprit. He warned that, Officers operating such illegal check points will be severely punished.”
The release said that the officers suspended include 3 Assistant Superintedent of Customs who are implicated in a case of extortion at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The letter signed by Wale said that the officers who were attached to the currency declaration desk at the airport got into troubles for allegedly extorting the sum of 13, 000 USD during the outward clearance of a passenger on Emirates Airline flight.
Twenty-three (23) senior officers of the Nigeria Customs service have been sanctioned for various offences in the first two months of 2015.
He said two others who are also ASC cadre servingat Seme command are suspended from the service for alleged rape committed in Badagry area of Lagos.
“Comptroller General of Customs, Dikko Inde Abdullahi expressed regrets that the involvement of young officers recently recruited into the Service in various illegal acts is worrisome. He warned that the Service will not tolerate such officers, noting that the machinery for investigations in the service will be strengthened to punish erring officers.
“Mid-level management officers serving in the Ports were also affected in the recent action as 5 Assistant Comptrollers of Customs serving in Tin Can Island Port are among those suspended from service for improper release of seizures.
”Five others including a Deputy Comptroller serving in Apapa Port have appeared at the investigative panel for Negligence and improper examination of containers. The outstanding six Officers were made to appear before the same panel for offenses ranges from hacking of passwords, falsification of academics certificates, Negligence and general indiscipline,” the statement read.
