The eyewitness reporter

The fate of the career of a customs officer, identified as Owombo Segun John, who exposed the smuggling cartel at the Nigerian borders with Cameron, Chad and Niger Republic, now hangs in the balance as the management of the Nigeria Customs Service keeps mum over his case five months after the incident.

The officer,Owombo, a superintendent of Customs (SC), in a viral video in November 2022, has openly described how he arrested some tankers laden with refined petroleum products being smuggled across the Nigerian borders at the Malabo checkpoint on Belel Road, Adamawa state on November 2nd, 2022 into the neighbouring countries of Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republic.

He has also alleged official collaboration with the smugglers and intimidation in an attempt to cover up through threats to his life.

Shortly after the viral video which the Nigeria Customs Service found embarrassing, the officer was said to have been invited to meet the Comptroller General of Customs, Col.( rtd) Hameed Ali in Abuja.

The service also alleged then that the officer was not of “stable mind” and would be subjected to tests to ascertain the level of his sanity.

However, five months after the officer was ” invited” to the Abuja Headquarters of the Customs, the customs management has kept mum over his matter, thus raising concerns over the career of the said officer.

However, it was alleged that the officer has been in “open” detention since he was whisked to Abuja in November 2022.

It was also gathered that the officer, Owombo, may have been down with an ailment as the series of tests carried out on him while in detention revealed he was allegedly suffering from kidney disease.

Also, the Customs management has allegedly slammed a query on the hapless officer for what was described as misconduct, divulging of official matters and activities targeted to tarnish the image of the service.

The memo issued to the officer was signed by SA BOMAI, Secretary/Ag. Assistant Comptroller-General (Board) reads “It has been brought to the notice of the Nigeria Customs Service Board (NCSB) that your attitude to work and general conduct has been unsatisfactory:

“That you Svc No 44836 SC SI OWOMBO, while serving at Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone D as a proper Officer, involved in a case of disclosing official information, violation of oath of secrecy and act of unbecoming of a Public Officer.

“This constitutes a Serious Misconduct under the Public Service Rule (PSR) 030402 (i), (n) and (w) punishable under 030401 with Dismissal.

“2. If you have any representations to make as to why necessary disciplinary action, including dismissal from the Service, should not be taken against you, you should submit same, to the satisfaction of the Board, in duplicate, through the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), within forty-eight (48) hours, of receipt of this query.

“Please note that if your representation is not received within this time limit, it will be taken to mean that you have none to make and necessary disciplinary action against you shall commence accordingly.

“3. You will be allowed access to documents relevant to your defence. 4. Acknowledge receipt of this query on the copy attached herewith.”.

Meanwhile, Abdullahi Maiwada, the new National Public Relations Officer of the Customs, claimed ignorance of the continued detention of Officer Owombo nor his state of health.

In a telephone conversation with our reporter, Maiwada warned that emotions and unsubstantiated claims could undermine and preempt the ongoing investigation into the matter.

“I am not aware if the officer you mentioned is in detention or if he is sick but what I know is the investigation is still going on into his case.

”We shouldn’t bring emotion into this matter because it is capable of undermining or preempting the investigation” he said.

When he was confronted with the fears in certain quarters that the officer may be dismissed in view of the recent query issued to him by the service, he said he was not aware of any query but disclosed that there are established processes and procedures to deal with such cases as indiscipline or insubordination in the service.

“Nobody can wake up and just dismiss an officer, there are established processes and procedures to follow. There must be an investigation, which is going on in this case.

”After that, the report of the investigation will be submitted to to disciplinary committee which will make its recommendations and send to the management which will in turn refer its own recommendations to the Board.

”You can see the system allows for fear hearing. So no officer can be dismissed without going through these processes and procedures in which he would have an ample opportunity to defend himself” the customs spokesman declared.