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Farinto tackles Customs over attempt to demonise victim of Mile- 2 shooting —-claims trigger- happy officer under influence of drug

 

Eyewitness reporter

The fiery Vice-President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents(ANLCA), Kayode Farinto, has condemned what he described as a vain attempt by the Nigeria Customs Service to demonise one Adeyemi Quadri, the young freight forwarder, who was shot in the leg by a member of the roving team of the Federal Operation Unit(FOU) on Mile 2 road.

Farinto, who is also the Managing Director of Wealthy Honey Investment Nigeria Limited, claimed that the Customs resorted to this unorthodox method in a bid to hush up the unfortunate incident that could have claimed the life of the  Customs broker.

Speaking in his office yesterday, Farinto said it behooves him as a senior stakeholder in the industry and in his personal capacity as a licensed customs broker to speak up and expose the antics of Customs in its attempt to sweep the incident under the carpet after all his efforts to settle the matter amicably has been rebuffed by the Customs.

It could be recalled that on March 17th, 2021, there was a shooting incident at the Mile -2 axis of Tin Can port where an officer in the Roving team of the FOU shot and fatally wounded a Customs broker over  a dispute on 2019 RAV4 Toyota SUV.

The incident generated a spat between the Customs authority, who claimed that the victim was trying to resist and obstruct the officer in his duty of arresting the vehicle which the Customs claimed fell foul of standard clearing procedure.

After the tensed atmosphere generated between the Customs and the confraternity of freight forwarders, the Customs authority, through its National Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller Attah, in an interview with an online medium, declared that the victim of the incident was not a registered Customs broker but a tout who mobilised a mob in an attempt to overrun the officer to dispossess him of his gun, hinting at possible prosecution of the victim.

However, Farinto declared that nothing could be further from the truth the allegation raised by the National spokesman of the Customs which he said should not be allowed to stand if justice will be done in the case.

He challenged the Customs PRO to provide proof of his claims that the shot victim was not a Customs broker but a tout.

“Am speaking as the Managing Director of Wealthy Honey Investment Nig. Limited and a senior stakeholder in the industry and a licensed customs broker.

‘I read the statement made by DC Attah, the National PRO of Customs on the unfortunate incident at Mile Two where one of our members was shot and i can say that he goofed.
”He goofed in the sense that his statement was misleading Nigerians to believe that what happened at mile two was as a result of miscreants who attempted  to take the gun of the officer.

“I challenge him to provide the proof of his allegations.
As a stakeholder and genuine agent, the onus is on me to let the world know the true position of the incident.

”What happened was that a customs agent, having followed the due process of clearance procedure,  applied for valuation on 2019 RAV4 Toyota model and the vehicle was valued at over $12,000 with the surface duty of N1.7 million and other charges which amounted to N2.345million, which he duly paid.

‘After this, the vehicle was duly released and he took delivery of it and drove it out of the port.

‘At a point along the Mile two road, he was accosted in a commando style by one of the members of the roving team of FOU.
‘One of the team members, whom we suspected was not in a stable mind, shot the agent.

“This will take me to the issue of who is a customs broker.
Section 150 of CEMA empowers the Customs board to register us as clearing firms, but we can delegate functions and duties to our staff.

“This was what happened to the agent who was shot .He was working with a licensed Customs brokage firm and that made his a genuine customs broker unlike  what Attah wanted the world to know.

‘But instead of Customs to come openly and apologise that what happened was a mistake, what they now did was to label him as miscreant and tout who is not a freight forwarder.

”This was an attempt to call a dog a bad name before they hang him but I disagree and challenge Attah to prove it” Farinto fumed with flaming fury.

‘Under CEMA, there is what is called precarious liability which means that whatever any of the staff does, the owner of the license under whose the staff operates will be held liable.
”This particular staff paid all the duty accrued to the government.
”We shall not accept the attempt by the Customs to label the agent as a miscreant”, he declared.

Farinto, who was brandishing  a sheaf of document for the payment of necessary duties by the wounded agent, declared that the clearance of the vehicle followed due process as all the duties and charges as assessed by competent Customs officer, were fully paid and the vehicle legally exited.

According to the sheaf of document that was made available to our reporter, the Vehicle, a RAV4 Toyota 2019 model was valued at $12,748 with surface duty of N1,700 ,080.00 using an exchange rate of N381 to a dollar and 35 per cent rate of duty and HS Code 8703.

The valuation officer, according to the Nigeria Customs Service Valuation Assessment Form, who duly examined, assessed and duly released the vehicle, was one Nwankwo, a Deputy Comptroller of Customs with service Number 4115, signed and dated the form March 15th, 2021.

In the Assessment notice by the Customs, the surface duty and other charges assessed and duly paid was N2,345,929.00

The break down of the assessment and payment include N1,700,080.00 as surface duty, N119,006.00 as surcharge, N24,287.00 as ETLS and N502,556.00 as VAT.

The total amount assessed and paid was N2,345,929.00

The declarant with C no 4814RC143708, was Rightful Soil Nigeria Limited while the Company name is Cajetan Egbufoama 24490638-0001.

The declarant paid the full duty in cash with receipt number R-44559 and dated 16/03/2021 at GTB.

The assessment Notice carries C44053 dated 16/03/2021 as Customs reference while declarant reference was 2021/ESHE with assessment reference A 44908 16/03/2021

Farinto, said having paid all the necessary duty and charges, the FOU roving team had no justification to accost the agent and even shot him.

He accused the Customs of hiding under the absence of uniform tariffs on vehicles which he alleged they used to harass and extort agents.

He claimed that all attempts by the ANLCA to prevail on the Customs to take a cue from their counterparts in Ghana who use uniform tariffs on vehicles proved abortive.

He accused the officers of frustrating the process of harmonised tariff on vehicles for their selfish interests.

”I have on several occasions begged the Customs authority to give us uniform tariff on vehicles
”Nigerians need to know that for instance, a tariff on 2019 Camry differs at Tin Can, Apapa and PTML. They pay different values because of the arbitrariness of duty.

”We have received many complaints from our members over the extortion and arbitrariness of tariff on vehicles and asked the Customs to take a cue from Ghana where we even offered to sponsor officers of the service to go and understudy their system.

”In Ghana, your VIN number is imputed into the system which will give all the details on the vehicles such as year of manufacture, mileage on the odometer. With that, your vehicle will be valued. You cant lie.

”But here in Nigeria, they prefer arbitrary imposition of tariff.

”I have it on good authority that the CGC has directed that there must be uniformity of value but this has not been implemented.

”We are tired of arbitrary value, we are tired of giving bribes.”, the ANLCA Chieftain declared.

He said that it was inhuman and callous by Customs  to label the young agent who was shot as a miscreant.

”The officers act with impunity and feel they can get away with anything they do.

”But not this time around because we are going to fight and get justice for the innocent and unarmed agent who was brutalised and shot by an officer we strongly suspected was not in a stable mind.

” The officer who pulled the trigger was psychologically unstable”
”From our own investigations, we found out that this particular officer has been living on psychotropic substance.
”You recalled one junior officer sometime ago who declared himself as the CGC. This incident has been hushed up.
”I challenge the Customs to bring out the officer who shot our colleague and subject him to psychiatric analysis and clinical examination.

‘Nigerians will be surprised at the level of psychotropic substance in his system.

”When the agent was shot, this particular officer was even threatening to give him water so he could die.

”There is no sensible officer with weapon who will say that. We are not at war.
Am challenging the customs to parade this officer and subject him to necessary examination to determine his state of mind.

‘This brings me to the disturbing issue of the state of mind of these  Customs officers with guns”Farinto declared.

He appealed to the general public, especially the civil society groups, to rise up and help the wounded Customs broker get justice.

However, investigation by our reporter revealed that, while the Lagos FOU authority gave the wounded agent N200,000 in two tranches(N100, 000 by the Comptroller of Lagos FOU and another N100,000 by the leader of the Roving team) to off-set his hospital bill, the disputed Vehicle is still in the Lagos FOU detention, almost a month after the incident.

It was gathered that the Unit has slammed a DN of N3.5million on the vehicle as they alleged that the duty paid by the importer was a “compromised duty”

Farinto however disagreed with the position of the FOU which he described as an attempt to safe their face as there was no such thing as a compromised duty in CEMA.

He queried the competence of the FOU officers on assessment and valuation even as he declared that the unit was set up not to collect revenue but to act as the police of the Customs.

”The best the FOU officers, who are not trained in assessment and valuation, could do under such circumstance, was to return back to the releasing ports any consignment suspected of infraction in payment of duty”

He said that it was left for the importer if he would pay the DN which he described as arbitrary, illegal and inhuman but hinted that the matter could be taken to court which is the final arbiter in a dispute of this nature.

He accused the FOU customs of an attempt to whisk away the wounded agent while he was still recuperating at the hospital to an unknown place but ” i frustrated their move when i quickly moved the injured freight forwarder away before the Customs could carry out their plan”

 

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FG takes safety on waterways campaign to Ogun, donates 3500 life-jackets to waterways operators.

Funso OLOJO 
As part of efforts to enhance the safety of waterways across the nation, the federal government has donated 3500 life-jackets to Ogun State Government for waterways operators in the state.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, who handed over the life-jackets on Tuesday, assured Nigerian inland waterways users that the ministry will stop at nothing to curb the needless loss  of lives on waterways.
Represented by Director of Maritime Services in the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Mercy Ilori, the Minister said the campaign is part of a deliberate national strategy to embed a culture of safety on our inland waterways.
 “This is one of the most comprehensive Federal government responses in recent times to the persistent loss of lives on Nigeria’s waterways.
“Consequently, there have been successful handovers of Safety life jackets at Niger, Bayelsa, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Taraba, and Lagos States.
” We are now in Ogun State to sustain the momentum and  reveal the government’s unwavering commitment to protecting the lives and livelihoods of the people of Ogun.
“You will all agree with me that the frequency and tragic consequences of boat mishaps across the country are deeply concerning.
“It is in recognition of this menace that the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to prioritize life-saving interventions to bring about tangible change.”
He stressed that the government’s commitment to end the needless loss of lives on waterways is anchored on three pillars: Strict enforcement of the Inland Waterways Transportation Regulations 2023; Continuous public education and sensitization campaigns; and Provision of critical safety equipment, notably life jackets, to waterway users.
“It is worthy to note that the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), a key agency under the Ministry, plays a pivotal role in ensuring the success of this strategy.
“NIWA continues to lead in regulation, monitoring compliance, and supporting education and enforcement efforts on our inland waters,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, assured the Minister that the life jackets will be distributed equitably to registered operators across the state.
The Governor, who was represented by the State Commissioner for Transportation, Engr. Gbenga Dairo, stated that safety on the nation’s waterways wasn’t a privilege but a right of everyone in Ogun State.
He also assured that the State is ready and willing to provide all the necessary support to sustain the momentum but to enhance inland waterways as viable and secured alternative to road infrastructure.
“Safety on the waterways is not a privilege, it is a right.
” Every life jacket handed over today represents a life potentially saved, a family preserved, and a future secured.
” This initiative aligns with the human capital development pillar of our administration’s ISEYA agenda ensuring that people remain at the heart of our progress
“Ogun State values the synergy we have fostered with the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and applauds their dedication to the development of marine infrastrucnare, safety standards, and the blue economy as a whole.
” Ogun State stands ready and willing to provide all the necessary support to sustain this momentum, not only in marine safety but also in enhancing inland waterways as viable and secure alternatives to road transport.”
“To our waterway users, boat operators, fishermen, and residents of our riverine communities: these life jackets are for you.
” But more importantly, the knowledge and awareness you will gain from this sensitization effort will serve as your daily companion, protecting you and helping you protect others.
“Ogun State hereby assures the Federal Ministry of Marine & Blue Economy and NIWA that these life jackets will be equitably distributed to verified and recognised operators across the state’s waterways, from Iwopin to Ebute-Ero, from Agbara to Tongeji, Imakun Omi to Ode-Omi, and other active riverine corridors.
” A strict monitoring and maintenance protocol will be enforced to ensure sustainability and accountability.”
The State Governor, however, warned that State actors would not allow preventable tragedies define the nation’s waterways
“As we continue to embrace innovation and development in transportation, we must also embrace accountability and responsibility.
“Let us not allow preventable tragedies to define way of life, let us instead champion the principles of safety, respect for life, and collective vigilance.”
However, the Managing Director of NIWA, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, warned that the issue of safety on the inland waterways cannot be over emphasized as he recounted several tragic incidents that claimed lives in hundreds.
“The issue of safety can never be over-emphasized. In June 12, 2023, a wooden boat carrying wedding guests returning from a marriage ceremony from Niger State capsized in Jeva Channel Lake, in River Niger in Kwara State, owing to overloading and a submerged tree.
“The boat was reported to be carrying over 200 guests despite having the capacity of carrying just less than 100 passengers.
“More than 200 lives were lost, among which a father and four of his children were involved. So you can imagine the kind of tragedy that befell the family.
“Again, in October 1, 2024, a wooden boat carrying mostly women and children traveling for religious festive occasions capsized in Niger State.
“The boat was reported to be carrying over 300 passengers even though it has the capacity of carrying less than 100 passengers. More than 100 lives were lost.”
NIWA Managing Director, who was represented by Engr. Elsie Egwuatu, observed that in the respective cases the boats were heavily overloaded, sailed at night without the proper navigational aids and conveyed passengers without life-jackets.
“So if you think safety is expensive, try disaster. Over 90 percent of accidents that happen on our waterways are caused by human error.
“In most cases, it is caused by captain’s negligence. The newly gazetted Marine and Transport Regulations Codes, which spells out offences and punishments, ranging from fine to imprisonment, mandates the compulsory use of life jackets for all waterways users sailing on our waterways,” she added.
Also speaking, the National President of the Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATON), Alhaji Tarzan Balogun called for intensified regulatory efforts to prioritize safety and infrastructural development on Nigerian waterways.
Alhaji Balogun commended the government for its efforts in promoting safety across the country’s inland waterways, even as he assured that the life jackets would be used judiciously.
“There must be a firm policy — no life jacket, no entry. I’ve witnessed several cases where passengers refuse to wear them. That should not be allowed. Safety must come first,” he said.
Balogun also praised the federal government, particularly President Tinubu and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, for their commitment to maritime safety and for recognizing the importance of life-saving gear in water transport.
“If you’re drunk or perceived to be a threat to others onboard, operators must have the authority to refuse you entry.
” There is also the problem of bringing animals onboard, especially dogs who can scare passengers onboard and make boats capsize,” he stated.
Balogun also called on the Ogun State Government to emulate Lagos by setting up a dedicated waterways authority and constructing jetties in collaboration with local boat operators.
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Dangote supports NPA -led One stop shop committee with brand new bus for enhanced operations 

Funso OLOJO 
The President/Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has commended the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for the effective way it has handled the implementation of the Federal Government’s policy on domestic sales of crude oil and refined products in Naira.
To this end, Alhaji Dangote has donated a brand new Coaster bus to the OSS Committee to further ease its operations.
In a letter signed personally, Alhaji Aliko Dangote assured that  his organisation will continue to explore ways of supporting the committee to sustain its successes in the implementation of the presidential directive.
The Letter reads in part: “In recognition of the enormous responsibility placed on shoulders of the One Stop Shop (OSS) by the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, and our commitment to ensuring the committee delivers on its mandate, I am pleased to donate to the committee one (1) brand new Coaster bus to facilitate the daily discharge of their operations.
“We believe this bus will be used productively by the committee as we continue to look for ways to support and appreciate the efforts of this noble committee
Recall that the Chairman, Technical Sub-Committee, on the implementation of the Federal Government’s policy on domestic sales of crude oil and refined products in Naira, Zacch Adedeji, had during a recent visit to NPA, commended the One-Stop-Shop (OSS) Team, led by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for ensuring smooth operations of the directive.
He thanked the team led by NPA for “playing a pivotal role in the successful implementation of the presidential directive on the domestic sales of crude oil and refined products in Naira”
 Adedeji said: “We recognize that this pioneering effort is a significant achievement, and no doubt reflects your commitment and patriotism”.
“Thus, we encourage you to maintain the hard work and dedication that has made this initiative a success.
“We also extend our gratitude to all participating agencies for their invaluable cooperation and support,” Adedeji said.
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CRFFN Registrar talks tough over Court judgement nullifying collection of POF, declares Customs agents will continue to pay despite court ruling.

–vows to appeal the judgement. 

Funso OLOJO / Gloria Odion 
The Registrar of the Council for the  Regulation of Freight Forwarding Practice in Nigeria(CRFFN), Mr Kingsley Igwe, has vowed that the Council will appeal the Lagos High Court judgement which nullified the collection of Practitioners Operating Fee(POF) by the CRFFN from Customs Clearing Agents.
It would be recalled that in 2018,  the National Council of Managing Directors of Licenced Customs Agents(NCMDLCA) approached a Lagos High Court in order to stop the collection of the controversial POF which commenced in 2017.
However, seven years later, on May 26th, 2025, Justice D.E Osiagor , ruled that the collection of POF from the Customs Agents by the CRFFN was illegal, contending that the council only have control over freight forwarders but not customs agents.
But in a swift reaction, the Council’s Registrar said the Customs agents are within the sphere of control of the CRFFN and are therefore mandated  pay the POF.
Quoting copiously from the Customs Act 2023, Mr Igwe said the Customs agents are part of the freight forwarding profession.
 ” The Nigerian Custom Service Act, 2023, further reinforces the regulatory role of CRFFN  over customs agents who operate within the freight forwarding value chain, notably Section 106, Subsection 4 of the Nigerian Custom Service Act, 2023, states, and I quote, a customs representative, if you like, a customs license agent, shall be a freight forwarder.
“I repeat, a customs representative, if you like, a customs agent, shall be a freight forwarder, and shall be subject to the regulations and code of conduct of the freight forwarding profession in Nigeria, in this case, a profession regulated by Council for Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria”
” This provision legally integrates custom representatives into the freight forwarding profession, making them subject to the regulatory control and code of conduct established by CRFFN”
The council Registrar therefore vowed that the court judgement will be appealed.
” The Council’s legal team is thoroughly reviewing the contents, the context and legal implication of the said judgments and reaffirm that where necessary, the Council will exercise its rights of appeal, review or clarification through competent judicial channels”
The Registrar also condemned what he described as a secretive manner in which the court process was carried out without informing the defendants.
“I wish to express deep concern over the secretive manner in which it was issued reportedly without due notice to the defendants as named in the suit.
” Such a process somehow is contrary to expected principles and processes as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The Council views this report as the handwork of some mischief makers to derail the peace reforms and progress achieved in the freight forwarding sector in recent times”
He said that the court judgement would not stop the Council from collecting the POF, ” because the appeal never mentioned that they should stop paying POF”
” It only declared it illegal. It didn’t say stop, henceforth.
“So the collection of POF is continuous. And as a matter of fact,this is not against court ruling”
” I want to be clear on that. Because court never said stop collecting. It’s two different things.
“So that people don’t misunderstand it that way. Then, we’re already almost at the point of submitting the appeal. And we will pass the same submission” Igwe declared.
He therefore urged the freight forwarding practitioners to go about their normal duties and continue to pay the POF.
Igwe also declared that the plaintiff, the Council of Managing Directors which instituted the court process is under the control of the CRFFN ” and they will pay and continue to pay the POF”
He therefore asked the freight forwarders to continue to discharge their obligations under the CRFFN by paying the required practitioners fee pending the matter is resolved in the Court.
“POF is not a tax or a revenue level. But a statutory fee gazetted by the Federal Republic of Nigeria and created under the powers conferred on CRFFN by its establishing acts.
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