TheNewsGuru

Tag: Customs

  • We will prosecute importers of 661 rifles after investigations – Customs

     

    After almost two weeks that the entire nation was engulfed in fear over the discovery of 49 boxes of 661 pump-action rifles imported into the country but was intercepted by the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, TheNewsGuru.com can authoritatively report that the importers are yet to be charged to court.

    According to the NCS, investigations was ongoing and there was no way those involved could be charged until preliminary investigations have been concluded.

    This was revealed by the the Assistant Comptroller and acting spokesman for the NCS, Joseph Attah, on Saturday in an interview with newsmen.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that the Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone A of the NCS had, on January 30, intercepted the 40-foot container containing the rifles along the Mile 2 — Apapa Road in Lagos State.

    The FOU officials were said to have discovered that although the manifest said the container had “steel doors and other merchandise goods,” boxes of the weapons were concealed deep in the container.

    The rifles tagged, ‘JOJEFF made in Italy,’ could take up to 10 cartridges and could wreak a lot of havoc.

    Other items found in the container were diapers, office cabinet, towels, mattresses, soft drinks and toiletries among others.

    The Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (retd.), had said the container came from China, but was routed through Turkey to “cause confusion.”

    He had explained that three suspects, Oscar Okafor (importer), Mahmud Hassan (clearing agent) and Sadique Mustapha (escort) had been arrested.

    The NCS later arrested two of its officers; Abdullahi I, and Odiba Inah who cleared the container.

    Attah explained that there none of those arrested so far can be charged with any offense until investigations (which started almost immediately the container was intercepted) is concluded.

    In his words: “They are facing investigations already. It is only when investigations are completed that appropriate actions can be taken.

    “All those concerned with the importation of the rifles are currently under investigations. And when the investigations are completed, the findings of the investigations will determine further action.”

  • Senate boils over CG’s refusal to wear Customs uniform

     

    …says he should have been appointed Sole Administrator instead of CG

    The Senate Committee on Customs expressed its displeasure over the refusal of the Comptroller-General of Customs Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) to wear official uniform since assuming duty in 2015.

    The senators said Ali should have been appointed a sole administrator rather than a CG saying that way, he can chose to wear casual clothes which he has been parading himself in since coming on board as the CG.

    “The incumbent Comptroller General of Customs, supposed to have been designated as Sole Administrator and not the Comptroller-General of Customs since he is not ready to wear uniform depicting the office and rank of that position”, the Committee asserted.

    The statement which was made on Thursday at the interactive session with Senate Committee on Custom and Excise Duties, Ministry of Finance and Central Bank of Nigeria also noted that operations of those agencies would be Amended.

    A member of the Committee, Senator Obinna Ogba‎ (PDP Ebonyi Central), believed that CG’s outfit would ‎demoralise the officers and men of the agency.

    “Mr. CG, this committee will like to know the reason why you are still in mufti close to two years after your appointment as the Comptroller General of Nigeria custom service”, he fired.

    Responding, Col. Ali said being a former military officer tradition and statute did not permit him to wear any other uniform again.

    His response infuriated another member of the Committee, Senator Dino Melaye (APC Kogi West) who reminded him, the Custom CG that a retired General of the Nigerian Army in person of Halidu Hananiya wore Federal Road Safety’s Uniform when appointed as Corp Marshall of the agency.

    Ali responded that Hananiya made a mistake, a situation that made Senator Ogba who angrily walked out of the session saying ” this is how you people keep deceiving Nigerians on wrong action and still defending it”.

    Ali was also tackled by the committee over the non-composition of custom board since 2015 when it was dissolved.

    Querrying operations of the Custom without its Management board in place, Committee Chairman, Senator Hope Uzodinma ‎(PDP Imo West) said it was illegal for the custom CG alone to be promoting and firing officers without the board in place and ordered immediate constitution of the board.

    “You claimed that the Minister of Finance is the one delaying the composition of the board, this committee will write a letter straight away to the Minister, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Attorney General of Federation to put the board in place without any further delay.” he said.

    “We are releasing you to go and sew your uniform while we continue with officials of Ministry of Finance and Central Bank”, Uzodinma added.
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  • Customs arrests 3 over seized 661 rifles in Lagos [More photos]

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has explained how it intercepted a massive weapons haul of 661 brand new pump-action rifles in Lagos state.

    The Customs also confirmed the arrest of three people in connection with the importation of the large arms. They suspects’ names were given as: Oscan Okafor (Importer) age 51, Mahmud Hassan (Clearing Agent) age 56 and Sadique Mustapha (who accompanied the consignment to its destination) age 28.

    In a press statement delivered by the Comptroller-General of NCS Hameed Ali at a briefing in Lagos on Monday, January 30, the outfit said the guns were intercepted on Sunday, January 22.

    The statement read: “On Sunday 22nd January 2017, the Roving Team of the NCS Federal Operations Unit while on information patrol intercepted a Mack truck with registration number BDG 265 XG conveying a 1x40ft Container with Number: PONU/825914/3along Mile 2 Apapa road.

    The brand new pump-action rifles in cartons in which they were seized

    “The truck was immediately taken to the premises of FOU Zone A,Ikeja where Physical examination revealed49 boxes containing a total number of 661 pieces of pump action rifles concealed with steal doors and other merchandize goods.”

    The Customs clarified that the actions of the importer contravened the provisions of the Nigerian laws and it is even more so given the fragile level of security in the country at the moment.

    It added: “These Rifles are under absolute prohibition; therefore its importation is illegal. Such deadly contravention of the law is even more unacceptable considering the fragile security situation in some parts of the country.”

     

  • [Photos included]: Customs intercepts 661 AK 47 rifles in Lagos

    The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) intercepted 661 pieces of pump action rifles from China, concealed with steel doors and other merchandise goods, which came in through Lagos port.

    The Comptroller-General of Customs, Retired Col. Hameed Alli, made the disclosure while briefing newsmen on Monday in Lagos.

    The Intercepted Weapons

    Alli said that the Federal Operations Unit, while on patrol, intercepted a Mark truck with registration number BUG 265 XG conveying a 40ft container with number; PONU/825914/3 along Mile 2 Apapa Road, Lagos.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the consignment was cleared from Lagos port.

    The comptroller-general said the truck was immediately taken to F.O.U. premises for physical examination and 49 boxes containing 661 pieces of pump action rifles concealed with steel doors were revealed.

    Alli said the rifles were under absolute prohibition, adding that its importation was illegal.

    “Such deadly contravention of the law is even more unacceptable considering the fragile security situation in some parts of the country.

    In-Photos: Customs Intercepts 49 boxes of 661 AK 47 rifles in Lagos“Already three suspects have been arrested in connection with this illegal importation,’’ NAN quotes the comptroller-general as saying.

    The suspects are: Mr Oscan Okafor (an importer), Mr Mahmud Haruna (a clearing agent), Mr Sadique Mustapha (accompanying the consignment to its destination).

    Alli said initially the consignment was said to have originated from Turkey, adding that there was mixed-up in the document which finally revealed that the consignment originated from China.

    “Investigation has already commenced and I have directed that the drag net should be wide enough to fish out all persons involved in the importation and clearing of the consignment, ‘’ NAN quotes Alli as saying.

    He said Customs officers who were involved in the clearance of the containers were in the custody of Comptroller Mahmud Haruna of FOU Zone “A’’

    Alli said that the seizure underscored the determination of the service to enforce all laws relating to importation and exportation of goods into and out the country thereby contributing to the economy, security and well-being of the country.

    The comptroller-general said that the seizure was commendable and represented the new normal rule in the service “where most officers and men are on a daily basis ensuring that illegalities are not allowed unchecked’’.

    He commended the Comptroller in charge of F.O.U. and officers and men who were involved in the seizure.

    Alli, however, urged the media as well as meaningful Nigerians to help the service with information that would assist the service perform its statutory responsibilities in the interest of Nigeria.

    He said the seizure would be handed over to the appropriate authority.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Details shortly…

  • Customs donate unclaimed N9.7bn helicopters to NAF to fight Boko Haram

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has handed over a two civil model Bell Helicopters transported into the country by yet to be identified person/company which was subsequently seized at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, on November 7, 2016, to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to assist in the fight against insurgence.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the helipcopters were forfeited to the NCS after several weeks that it was unclaimed.

    Customs Area Controller, Mr. Frank Allanah, who made the disclosure on Friday, put the import duty value of the helicopters and their accessories – 23 packages weighing 11,475 kg – at N9,757,135,240.86k.

    He said the choppers have been handed over to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to assist in fight against the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast.

    The service explained that the unknown importer failed to produce end user certificate from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) in contravention of Section 36 (2) of the Customs and Excise Management Act.

    Allanah added that the helicopters were flown in as a consignment with Airway Bill Number 17232444403 through the airport in Lagos.

    He recalled that oficials who examined the consignment found two civil models 412 EP of serial numbers 36608 and 36606 Bell Helicopters respectively, in standard configuration.

    The choppers were impounded and detained at the Skyways Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) pending fulfillment of all legal requirements for the importation which the owners never failed to produce.

  • Customs deploys armed personnel to tackle smuggling in Kwara

    Customs deploys armed personnel to tackle smuggling in Kwara

    The Nigeria Custom Service, NCS has deployed armed personnel to prevent the smuggling of imported vehicles through land borders in Kwara, the Area Comptroller, Alhaji Garba Kabiru, has said.

    Kabiru, who is in charge of Niger, Kogi and Kwara State Command, said customs personnel had been mobilised to prevent smuggling of vehicles and other goods into the cuntry.

    “We have since issued effective operational order to our officers in the border areas on how to prevent the illegal business and deal with smugglers,” he said in an interview with newsmen in Minna.

    “We have blocked all their identified exists through our border areas in Kwara as well as those coming on transit from other states.

    “We have partnered with traditional rulers especially those around border communities to alert us on the movement of smugglers.”

    The customs comptroller believed that the support of border communities would lead to more successes in ending smuggling across the nation’s borders.

    Kabiru, therefore, appealed to residents of such communities to offer intelligence reports on the movement of smugglers to help save Nigeria’s economy.

  • Tin-Can Island Port 2 Customs generate N8.12bn in 2016

    The Tin-Can Island Port 2 Customs Command on Monday said it had generated N8.12 billion between January and December 2016.

    The Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr Godwin Andishu, gave the figure in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos.

    Giving a breakdown of the figure, Andishu said N349.07 million was realised in January; N605.48 million in February; N245.15 million for March; while N461.87 million was recorded in April.

    The command`s spokesman said that the highest revenue of N1.57 billion was realised in May; N661.33 million in June; N531.81 million in July, while N453.51 million was realised in August.

    Andishu also said the command realised N835.94 million in September; N942.101million in October; N908.05 million in November; and N559.73 million in December.

    He described the total figure as impressive in spite of the low import activities at the ports, occasioned by foreign exchange scarcity.

    Andishu said the Controller, Alhaji Abdulkadir Dalhatu, had put in place measures to ensure that the command improves its revenue substantially in 2017.

     

  • Customs begins enforcement of FG’s ban on vehicle import through land borders

    … as agents seek 3-month extension

    Sequel to the Federal Government’s ban on importation of vehicles through the land border late 2016, the Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it has put in place measures to ensure effective implementation of the policy effective from Wednesday.

    Victor Dimka, controller of the Command, said in an interview with newsmen in his office that his command had deployed officers to man routes that could be used by smugglers to bring in the vehicles as the new policy took in effect in January 1, this year.

    The controller, who noted that it had not been easy for the command owing to the fact that Seme had two exit points that include Owode and the main border, except from the creeks, said the command had also sensitised people to be aware of the new policy and its implications.

    “We have moved all the officers on vehicle seats to other seats, particularly the routes that we consider could be used by smugglers. We have also blocked all the routes and new ones are being created,” Dimka said.

    According to Dimka, the command has also dismantled all illegal checkpoints and blocked all illegal routes, as, “We have sent our moles to know exactly the minds of people that will want to smuggle vehicles. We have made a lot of discoveries but these are things that cannot be disclosed because if you want to catch a smuggler, you don’t give out strategies so that they don’t counter such strategies.”

    The command will also work closely with the anti smuggling unit of the NCS, the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) and other security agencies including the military and the police to ensure full implementation of the law, he said.

    Meanwhile, the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Seme chapter, has called on the Federal Government to grant a three-month grace period before enforcing the ban on importation of vehicles through the land borders.

    Bisiriyu Danu, chairman of the association, who made the plea on Friday in Badagry, Lagos State, said the grace period would enable ships carrying vehicles to berth for clearance before implementation of the ban.

     

  • Customs embark on massive redeployment, spokesperson, 245 others affected

    The Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali, has approved the redeployment of eight Assistant Comptrollers-General and 238 Deputy Comptrollers of Customs.

    The affected Assistant Comptrollers-General affected are:

    • Charles Edike from Zone A to Human Resource Development (HRD)
    • Ahmed Mohammed from HRD to Zone B
    • Aminu Dangaladima from Zone B to Enforcement
    • Francis Dosumu from Enforcement to Zone D
    • Augustine Chidi from Zone D to Excise, Free Trade Zone and Industrial Incentives (Ex, FTZ, & I I)
    • Monday Abueh from Ex, FTZ, & I I to Zone A
    • Umar Sanusi from HQ to Zone C
    • Abdulkadir Azerema from Zone C to HQ

    The redeployment of Deputy Comptrollers of Customs affected the Service Public Relations Officer, Wale Adeniyi, who is now posted to Apapa Customs Area Command, Lagos.

    “As all the affected officers report at their new Zones and Commands, the Comptroller-General reiterated Federal Government’s ban on importation of rice and vehicles through the land borders,” a statement by Joseph Attah, Custom’s Deputy Public Relations Officer, said on Tuesday.

    “He charged all Officers and Men of the Service to ensure maximum collection of revenue and strict implementation of fiscal policy of Government.”

     

  • Customs CG approves redeployment of 8 ACGs, 238 DCs

    Customs CG approves redeployment of 8 ACGs, 238 DCs

    In a bid to strengthen operations and reposition the Nigerian custom service to meet the challenges of the new year 2017, the Comptroller-General (CG) of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd), has approved the redeployment of 8 Assistant Comptrollers-General (ACG) and 238 Deputy Comptrollers (DC) of Customs.

    The redeployment which takes immediate effect is intended.

    Assistant Comptrollers-General affected are:

    • ACG Charles Edike from Zone A to Human Resource
    • ACG Ahmed Mohammed from HRD to Zone B
    • ACG Aminu Dangaladima from Zone B to Enforcement
    • ACG Francis Dosumu from Enforcement to Zone D
    • ACG Augustine Chidi from Zone D to Excise, Free Trade
    • ACG Monday Abueh from Ex, FTZ, & I I to Zone A
    • ACG Umar Sanusi from HQ to Zone C
    • ACG Abdulkadir Azerema from Zone C to HQ

    The redeployment of Deputy Comptrollers of Customs affected the Service Public Relations Officer, DC Wale Adeniyi, who is now posted to Apapa Customs Area Command, Lagos.

    As all the affected officers report at their new Zones and Commands, the Comptroller-General reiterated Federal Government ban on importation of Rice and Vehicles through the land borders.

    He charged all Officers and Men of the Service to ensure maximum collection of revenue and strict implementation of the fiscal policy of Government.