Harboursandport.com: Lagos--- 30/11/2018: Suspecting
half truth and outright concealment of facts on the seizure of 40 containers of
tramadol, the League of Maritime Editors and Publishers (LOMEP) weekend called
on the management of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to make public the identity
of the importer or importers who offered the sum of N150million
bribe to the Customs for one of the containers to be
released.
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| Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) |
Noting that the Comptroller-General of the Service, Col. Hammed
Ali(rtd) had told newsmen that the importer had offered the sum of $280,000
bribe for one of the containers to be released, the League said unveiling the
personality was necessary as part of the war against corruption as well as
importation of dangerous drugs that have ruined many Nigerian
youths.
Besides, the League said such disclosure will put paid to
speculations going round in the ports industry that the claim by the Customs
that an importer offered the money displayed during the press briefing in Apapa
was in doubt.
Speculations have been that the so-called bribe money was
simply a make-up or contributions of some customs officers in the port
system for image redemption purposes.
In a statement signed by the President, Mr. Kingsley Anaroke and
the Secretary General, Mr. Francis Ugwoke, the League argued that the only way
the Customs management would convince Nigerians that an importer was actually
the one who offered the money in cash is to unveil his identity.
The statement reads:, “We see no reason why the identity of the
importer should be kept secret. It should be made public as a deterrent
to others wishing to do the same thing in future. By exposing the
culprits, such action will further check importation of such dangerous
goods into the country as the importer knows the implication.
“It is pertinent to request the Customs management
to institute an independent inquiry into the issue of
corruption in the ports and border posts involving resident customs
officers in which the nation has continued to suffer billions of Naira
revenue loss that go to private pockets.
“We
also would like the CG to find out why some officers who were arrested over
their indictment in the seized tramadol have been threatening to expose others
involved in the scam if not treated well.
“We want the Customs management to ensure that nothing
happens to these officers as they could be target with their threat to
expose wrong doings in the system”.
Recall that the Customs had recently seized 40
containers of tramadol drugs with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N7,318,978,065.00.
The CG revealed that three suspects, among them customs
officers and two others that cleared the products were
arrested in connection with the seizures.
Ali disclosed that the importers of the items had offered
a whooping sum of N150million just for one container to be released to
them, an offer he said was rejected.
Incidentally, the Customs management has kept secret the
identity of the importer or importers involved in the importation of the
goods into the country.
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